Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty hailed his players for sticking to the plan after they overcame Derry City to win the FAI Cup for the second time.
Goals either side of half-time from Andrew Quinn and Douglas James-Taylor propelled the underdogs to a first Cup victory in 19 years, Drogheda out-battling the favourites throughout, completely snuffing out their attacking threat.
They confounded pre-match expectations that the occasion and the bigger pitch would benefit Derry – winners only two years ago – with Doherty suggesting that commentary had disrespected his players.
“We stuck to the plan and played very well,” Doherty told RTÉ Sport’s Tony O’Donoghue after the game.
“Our preparation was good. We did have a couple of weeks. We knew we were in the playoff final, we knew we were in the Cup final, so we could start to prepare for it.
“Probably a lot of lazy stuff said so many times about the big pitch, nearly disrespecting how good our players are. That Derry would hurt us on the big pitch.
“The likes of Darragh Markey, Shane Farrell, Conor Kane – I could go through the whole lot (of them) – love the big pitch.”
Doherty, a three-time league winner with Shelbourne as a player but who lost in his only Cup final appearance for Longford Town in 2007, arrived in Drogheda as Tim Clancy’s assistant at the end of 2017, with the club in the First Division.
He assumed the top job after Clancy departed for St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of 2021 and has managed to maintain their Premier Division status, even as they became the only part-time club in the top flight following Finn Harp’s relegation in 2022.
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US sports investment firm Trivela Group acquired the club late last year, providing further investment, while European qualification for 2025 will guarantee them a minimum of €525,000.
“How could you not be proud of that (performance)?” Doherty said, in a pitchside interview with the RTÉ matchday panel.
“I told them before the game how proud I was of them, regardless of the result. Because we went through such a tough, tough couple of months during the summer. And people were writing us off.
“When I came into this club, it was with Tim (Clancy) and we were in the First Division. Tim got us promoted and to be doing what the lads have been doing over the last few years, you only have to look at what’s around us.
“Literally, every other team has a lot more (money). But with Trivela coming in, they’ve been brilliant with us, in improving things. Things like today will certainly help.”
While Drogheda can party tonight, their celebrations may be slightly curtailed by the looming promotion/ relegation playoff against Bray Wanderers next Saturday.
Drogs are seeking to avoid the fate of the Bray team of 1998-99 – honoured as the jubilee team at half-time – who were the last side to win the Cup and experience relegation in the same season.
Doherty indicated during the week that Drogheda would be training on Monday, regardless of today’s result, though he admitted to O’Donoghue that would be light enough fare.
“We have to. Look, it’ll be a recovery session. We’re not going to be doing too much tactical stuff. No, it’s really, really important. The confidence this gives us bouncing into next Saturday hopefully will get us through.
“This is going to be the most boring answer after a Cup final win but we’ve a playoff to win next week. But we’ll enjoy tonight, 100%. We’ve won the FAI Cup for only the second time in the club’s history, which is unbelievable.”
