DERRY CITY: Shiels keen to continue proud FAI Cup tradition

KENNY Shiels wants to continue Derry City's proud tradition in the FAI Cup and progress to the last four with victory over Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig Park tonight.
Kenny Shiels wants to lead Derry City into the FAI Cup Final this year but is wary of threat of Wexford Youths.Kenny Shiels wants to lead Derry City into the FAI Cup Final this year but is wary of threat of Wexford Youths.
Kenny Shiels wants to lead Derry City into the FAI Cup Final this year but is wary of threat of Wexford Youths.

The ‘Candy Stripes’ are five times winners of the competition but haven’t won since their 2012 triumph under Declan Devine.

Shiels admits it would ‘mean a lot’ to lead Derry into this year’s showpiece in his first season at the helm.

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However, he refuses to look beyond the threat Wexford pose in tonight’s last eight tie.

Derry City has a good tradition in this competition and we’d like to carry that on,” said Shiels.

“But we don’t talk about semi-finals or finals when we’re in the quarter-finals. It’s a great tournament which we’re very proud to still be a part of.

“We just lost in the semi-finals of the League Cup at the start of August and we wanted to give our supporters a cup final and didn’t do that. So if we can get through to the semi-finals it would be great.”

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Wexford proved to be tough opposition when the teams last met at Ferrycarrig Park earlier in the season when Rory Patterson’s late goal secured a narrow 2-1 win in the league.

Derry face back-to-back trips to Wexford in both cup and league competitions which complicates matters slightly but Shiels believes his troops have enough in the tank to get two favourable results.”

“It’s a tough game. We know it’s going to be a really hard game.

“I’m really hopefully we get a good performance and the right result. It’s one game we need to win and that’s where all our energies are going towards now.”

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With Aaron Barry ruled out for the season and both skipper, Ryan McBride and new signing, Max Karner both sidelined, Shiels is likely to deploy fullbacks, Niclas Vemmelund and Dean Jarvis in central defence.

Long term absentee, Gareth McGlynn (hamstring) also misses out while Lukas Schubert (knee) is doubtful.