Shamrock Rovers

Many expect Derry, who last lifted the League of Ireland title in 1997, to push the Hoops all the way over the next few months. A packed Ryan McBride Brandywell ...

Very poor from the three-in-a-row champions tonight. Michael Duffy however, is on his heels and can't quite make up the ground in time. Derry City 1-0 Shamrock Rovers Derry City 2-0 Shamrock Rovers FT: Derry City 2-0 Shamrock Rovers

THE 2023 League of Ireland season gets going this evening with the traditional curtain raiser of the President's Cup.League champions Shamrock Rovers.

“You fine tune, but I think you need a change. “I think the players he’s brought in - I don’t need to name any names - but I think they’re all going to add to us. “I think the days of League of Ireland going league to league, one year contracts, is gone thankfully, now there is a bit more planning, especially within our own club. “And the manager has managed to keep that experience and add that bit of youth which I think will help not only this year but for years down the line which I think is massively important as well. “I think we’re a strong group, I’ve played in a lot of strong groups, I think this is a really really strong group. “When you look too far down the line, you underestimate others and I don’t think our group is strong enough to ever do that.

Ruaidhri Higgins could be back in the Derry City dugout for tonight's President's Cup clash with Shamrock Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

The other is Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Ollie O’Neill, whose last gasp winning goal against Sweden 15 months ago was key to the side reaching the Euro 2023 play-offs. Whoever takes the team tonight, Reynolds believes there will be no better test for the Candystripes ahead of next week’s League of Ireland opener against St. “Whenever he is ready to come in; he’s been missed around the place so hopefully he’s back soon.

From kick-off times, expected line-ups and the weather forecast, here's your go-to guide for tonight's President's Cup Final at the Ryan McBride Brandywell ...

The latest weather forecast tells us we can expect light clouds and a moderate breeze at Brandywell with a highest temperature of 9C at the time of kick-off. Teams can make a maximum of six substitutions during the 90 minutes of tonight's cup final. [Stephen Bradley](/topic/stephen-bradley) and Derry assistant boss Alan Reynolds put on record their desire to win the trophy so we can expect two strong teams taking to the field tonight. Derry are also without new signing Colm Whelan and Ciaron Harkin. So wrap up warm! Rovers defeated St Pat’s in last year’s final 5-4 on penalties after the game finished 1-1.

Derry City signing Colm Whelan discusses his move to the Brandywell, his continued recovery from a cruciate knee injury, keeping in touch with former UCD ...

Please review their details and accept them to load the content. The second was a 7-1 trouncing in Derry. "I was just chasing shadows really. "The size of him. "My brother actually lives in Switzerland and during Christmas I was over there but Liam unfortunately he went back to Ireland. That's how he is,"

DERRY CITY lifted the President's Cup with an impressive victory over league champions Shamrock Rovers to lay down an early marker in the League of Ireland ...

Duffy followed up sharply but sent his strike into the side netting otherwise the match would’ve been surely out of sight for the league champions. It was Derry who threatened first, however, four minutes into the second half and Patching’s curling strike from the edge of the box struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. The opening goal arrived on 23 minutes when Doherty found Duffy on the left wing and the winger did brilliantly to pick out Patching 10 yards from goal who smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Derry City comfortably sealed their first President's Cup win, seeing off champions Shamrock Rovers, at a sold out Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Shamrock Rovers..(0) 0 Patching (23); Duffy (39) Derry City...(2) 2

DERRY CITY lifted the President's Cup with an impressive victory over league champions Shamrock Rovers to lay down an early marker in the League of Ireland ...

Duffy followed up sharply but sent his strike into the side netting otherwise the match would've been surely out of sight for the league champions. It was Derry who threatened first, however, four minutes into the second half and Patching's curling strike from the edge of the box struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out. The opening goal arrived on 23 minutes when Doherty found Duffy on the left wing and the winger did brilliantly to pick out Patching 10 yards from goal who smashed the ball into the back of the net.