DERRY CITY MANAGER Peter Hutton believes once the disappointment of losing the FAI Cup final alleviates, his young squad will benefit from the experience and it will help spur them on for next season.
Having beaten St Pat’s in the end-of-season showpiece two years, it was a role reversal yesterday as the Candystripes were forced to endure the taste of defeat on cup final day.
After a tight first-half, during which Derry were content to sit tight and maintain rigid, two goals from Christy Fagan proved the difference as Pat’s overcame their hoodoo to end a 53-year wait for cup glory.
Hutton, who won three FAI Cups as a player with Derry, admitted afterwards that his side weren’t at their best but couldn’t conceal his pride at the way his players fought to the very end.
“It was a very cagey, tight game and we knew that the first goal would be crucial. Unfortunately we didn’t get it but the the character of the players was immense because we really put it up to Pat’s,” Hutton said.
After limiting Pat’s – who enjoyed much of the possession – to half-chances, the concession of the opening goal minutes after the interval was a decisive juncture in the game as Derry were forced to alter their game plan and come out of their shell and release the shackles.
The introduction of Barry McNamee, who was unable to start due to injury, spurred Derry into life but Hutton acknowledged it was just one of those days that the ball didn’t bounce for his side.
“After we conceded a scrappy goal, I thought we rallied really well and built up a bit of momentum and created a few half chances but they just didn’t fall for us.”
“Barry had a good chance but just couldn’t get enough power or direction on it and Rory’s header, there was a few that just dropped around the box and didn’t fall our way. I can’t ask anything more of the players.
“A couple of them came into the game with injuries but they were determined to play, to battle through and we coped admirably. They’ll have plenty of better days because the future is bright with those young players in that dressing room.”
As the curtain comes down on the season, Hutton will now look ahead and begin to construct his squad for next season. The 41-year-old hopes to add to what he already has but admits it’s possible the club will lose some of their fledgling stars in the coming months.
There was speculation during the week that Celtic, among others, were keeping a close eye on Patrick McEleney and while the 22-year-old was hindered by a quad complaint in yesterday’s final, Hutton feels he is just one of several players who could make the grade should a club from across the water come calling.
“It’s not just Patrick,” He said when asked about scouts watching on at the Aviva. “Because there is a couple of young players but that’s the nature of the beast really. We showcase a lot of young talent here and we’ve done it previously and I’m that’s not going to change either.”
Whether McEleney is at the Brandywell come March or not, Derry won’t have European football to look forward to after an eight placed finish in the Airtricity League. Hutton doesn’t feel it’s too much of an issue because the future at the club is bright regardless.
“I’m immensely proud of all of them. To get to the final was a fantastic achievement in itself and while we’re disappointment, we’ll learn from this and if the players continue to apply themselves like they have done since we’ve come in then we’ll be here many more times.”
