- Rónán MacNamara
- Sun, Nov 13 2022
Ronan MacNamara reports from the Aviva Stadium.
Derry City ended a decade of hurt as they cruised to their sixth FAI Cup triumph after a Cameron McJannet brace and a superb Jamie McGonigle opener helped them to a record Cup Final win, as they won out 4-0 over Shelbourne at the Aviva Stadium.
Unlike previous league meetings the 25-point gap between the sides was reflected in this game where stars Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy shone on a wider and slicker Aviva Stadium pitch leaving a workman like Shelbourne unable to land a punch.
Ruaidhri Higgins first port of call last winter was to bring hometown heroes McEleney and Duffy back to the Brandywell and the returning duo provided the quality for Derry in both first half goals.
McJannet fortunately turned home a third on the hour mark in a game where Damien Duff’s side failed to land a punch.
Jordan McEneff endured a dismal loan spell at Tolka Park in the first half of the season and he was summoned from the bench to score a stoppage time penalty and rub salt to the wounds of the Reds.
Cited by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as a standout player after a Europa League game, McEleney’s outstanding sweeping ball was the catalyst for McGonigle’s opener who turned home Ryan Graydon’s pull back to give Derry a deserved lead after eighteen minutes.
Next it was the turn of fellow returning local boy Duffy to create the second goal after he was played in by McJannet. Duffy’s cross was diverted by the despairing Shane Griffin allowing McJannet to hammer home having continued his run into the area.
This was the first FAI Cup final meeting between the pair since Shelbourne ran out 2-0 winners in the showpiece 25 years ago.
Since 2008 only four finals had been won after 90 minutes prior to kick off so the expectation was for a cagey affair to explode into life in extra time as has been the trend.
However, the first half was played at a lively pace and McGonigle almost opened the scoring inside the first minute but Brendan Clarke – a winner with Pat’s - steamed out to smother the shot.
McEleney had a free tipped wide before he played an orchestral role in opening the scoring. He dropped deep to receive the ball from the centre halves and unreleased an inch perfect diagonal to Ryan Graydon whose touch and cross was to match as McGonigle sweeped home the opener.
Shels were dogged but lacked any cutting edge going forward in the opening period but almost replied instantly as Gavin Molloy curled a free kick just wide of Brian Maher’s post.
Left back McJannet doubled the Candystripes lead as he rifled home after Shane Griffin diverted Duffy’s ball into his path, leaving Duff staring at the floor knowing his side were facing a long way back.
It probably should have been game set and match ten minutes before the interval as Graydon fired over the bar when one on one with Clarke.
Shelbourne needed a herculean effort to land a punch in this cup final but their already mountainous task was made steeper after star man Shane Farrell was replaced at half-time having been an injury doubt all week.
McGonigle almost put the game beyond doubt after Molloy’s desperate clearance found its way onto his head but the ball looped over Clarke and the crossbar.
Derry did get the all-important third after McEleney’s corner travelled through the Shels defence with McJannet on hand to react smartly and turn the ball home with his thigh on the hour.
Three of the last five Aviva finals have gone the distance but a clinical Derry City ensured the 32,412 strong crowd were set for an early Sunday evening.
Higgins’ side began to play champagne football, and Duffy, no stranger to a cup final screamer, rattled the cross bar after cutting onto his right foot.
Duff’s only Landsdowne Road memory, at least in substance, is a comical one with a picture of him facing the wrong way during the National Anthem before a game with Armenia hanging in his bathroom – safe to say he won’t be adding to that collection.
The final twenty minutes were largely uneventful at least on the pitch with some disturbances breaking out in the South Stand as some Shelbourne fans launched flares onto the pitch before Gardai entered into a squirmish with the beleaguered Reds faithful.
Brian Maher’s only save of the match was to pick up the odd smoke bomb fired in his direction.
McEneff won a penalty in stoppage time after he was hauled down by Shels captain Luke Byrne and he calmly slotted home to cap the rout.
The gulf in class was evident and the picture was clear – although the fantastic pyrotechnic displays fogged the Aviva pitch – that this was the ceiling for Shelbourne while this could be a springboard for better things for Derry City who now have silverware under their belts just like Dundalk, Cork City and Shamrock Rovers did before earning league glory.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Cameron Dummigan, Shane McEleney (Ciaran Coll 80), Cameron McJannet; Michael Duffy (Brandon Kavanagh 89), Ryan Graydon (Joe Thomson 80), Patrick McEleney (c), Will Patching (Jordan McEneff 89); Jamie McGonigle (James Akintunde 75).
Subs not used: Daniel Lafferty, Declan Glass, Cian Kavanagh.
Shelbourne: Brendan Clarke; Luke Byrne (c), Shane Griffin, Stephen Negru; JR Wilson, Gavin Molloy (Mark Coyle 70), Aodh Dervin (Kameron Ledwidge 64), JJ Lunney, Shane Farrell (Brian McManus 46); Jack Moylan; Sean Boyd.
Subs not used: Scott Van der Sluis, Luke Browne, Josh Giurgi, Gavin Hodgins, Daniel Carr, Aaron O'Driscoll.
Referee: Damien McGraith.
Attendance: 32,412
extratime.com Player of the Match: Cameron McJannet (Derry City)
