Cup win is extra sweet for Derry

FAI Cup final reaction:As they flanked the podium where the medals were being presented at Lansdowne Road yesterday, the 27 flag-bearers dressed from head to toe in black and brandishing, alternately, giant Tricolours and FAI banners of similar appearance gave the onfield celebrations of Derry City's dramatic cup success a Northern feel of an altogether unexpected sort.

In the stands, though, it was less surprising that City's large travelling support was residing in some Foylesiders' fantasy land. Winning the cup is one thing - the Northerners had done so three times before - but to witness your team win it like this is something entirely different, and those dressed in candystripes were joyously relishing every moment.

Just 16,022 braved the wind and rain to watch what threatened to be, given the conditions, the worst final in some time. Instead, those who came were rewarded with what was comfortably the best, the two sides combining, after a slow start, to produce a wonderful contest in which City came from behind three times before snatching a memorable victory in extra-time.

The Dubliners contributed hugely to both the quality of the match and the sense of occasion, but many within the camp may find themselves lying awake at night over the coming weeks wondering how they let slip so many opportunities to end the club's long cup drought.

On balance, though, they were outplayed, outfought and outthought by players who, having suffered disappointments themselves over the past couple of years, clearly were unwilling to lie down when faced with adversity.

Mark Farren and Barry Molloy were probably their outstanding players on the day, though there were heroes throughout the team and it was their skipper Peter Hutton - a long shot after failing to keep pace with Dave Mulcahy for the first St Patrick's goal and upending Trevor Molloy to concede the penalty that led to their second - who picked up the man-of-the-match award.

He got to it thanks to a stunning combination of inspired defending and inspirational leadership during the last hour of the game and, of course, because of the close-range goal that revived City's hopes after Seán O'Connor had put John McDonnell's men 3-2 in front after 95 minutes.

"I'm deadly from that distance," chuckled the defender before ruling himself out of contention to succeed Stephen Kenny as manager on the basis that he intends to concentrate on extending his playing career with the club.

McDonnell was entitled to argue, as he did, that the game provided substantial backing for his repeated assertion that his St Patrick's side are not far off being in a position to challenge the country's best again.

His opposite number, though, also had a point when he suggested that a group of players that has achieved as much as his have over the past nine months deserved to go down in the record books as having won more than just another league cup.

"They're a terrific group of lads," he said afterwards. "You've got four midfield players there (Killian Brennan, Kevin Deery, Barry Molloy and Ruaidhrí Higgins) who have played with each other since they were schoolboys and have been friends all the way up. You have Seán Hargan and Gary Beckett, who have been at the club for 11 years each, and Peter Hutton, who has 14 years of service, albeit with one break.

"It's, well, unusual, but special too, and I believe they can go on to achieve great things together over the next few years."

Kenny, of course, will no longer be around to guide their continued development, but almost every Derry player spoke of the impact he has had over the last couple of seasons, while he preferred to focus on the fact that his two-week stint of effectively managing two sides in two different leagues is finally at an end.

"I'd been doing a team talk every three days or so for the last three or four months with Derry and, to be honest, I was running out of angles," he laughed. "Then I had to do two each weekend for the last couple of weeks and I was probably getting a few names mixed up - Bobby Robson and Jack Charlton certainly would have been in trouble.

"I'm delighted with the way it's finished, though. St Patrick's were terrific out there today but this was a fantastic day for us after the season we've had. It's been unbelievable."

Reminded of his own cup record - this year was the seventh in succession he led a team to the semi-finals - though he had only two final defeats to his name after that - he left little doubt about the relief he feels at having lifted the trophy before breaking his ties with the game here.

"The last final I lost, I flew off on a holiday the next morning with Siobhán (his wife) and the kids but couldn't speak to her for the two weeks," he said with a rueful smile.

"This time at least I'll be able to get on with things," he added, before remembering, "except that I have a six o'clock flight to catch to Scotland tomorrow morning."

A relegation battle awaits him upon arrival so he may be no chattier on this year's family holiday. This morning, though, he and his players can be proud of having been part of something great together.