Soccer: Stephen Kenny's former assistant Declan Devine has succeeded the Dubliner as Derry City manager.

Devine, who has signed a two-year contract with the Candystripes, was preferred to former Sligo Rovers manager Willie McStay and erstwhile Sligo Rovers and Bohemians boss Sean Connor.

Former Finn Harps manager Paul Hegarty was also in the running but was selected instead as Devine’s assistant.

Kenny was appointed Shamrock Rovers boss before Christmas after the departure of Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.

Devine had worked with the Tallaght man since the latter's first stint at Derry began in 2004 and followed him to Dunfermline Athletic before a return to the Brandywell.

They will come head-to-head, however, when Derry travel to Dublin to face Rovers in their ninth fixture of the new campaign on April 27th.