Ruaidhri Higgins 'devastated' over Derry's Conference League penalty heartbreak

Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins has called on their supporters to help lift the players as they refocus on domestic duties following their heartbreaking European exit on penalties.

The Candystripes missed out on a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round after going the distance with Kazakh side Tobol, losing on spot kicks at Tallaght Stadium after a 1-1 aggregate draw.

It was an early Will Patching penalty that ensured extra-time, with the shootout ultimately decided when Derry goalkeeper Brian Maher's effort was saved by opposite number Ivan Konovalov, Tobol winning 6-5 and booking a date with Viktoria Plzen.

Speaking after the defeat, Higgins couldn’t hide his huge disappointment with the outcome.

"I’m completely devastated for the players," he said. "What they have put in to this campaign has been nothing short of remarkable. I felt they deserved a wee bit more.

"I think it was a fairly even contest, but I felt we might have edged it and had the better opportunities (overall). With a wee bit more care, we could have put the game out of sight, but I’m immensely proud of the players."

After working their way through two earlier rounds of the competition, and with the tie delicately poised, Higgins insisted nothing was left to chance in the build-up.

"We had a feeling it might go the distance and we had been practicing (penalties)," he said.

"We had an order. There might have been a bit of confusion over who was fifth and sixth, but they were told the order and that’s what it was."

Derry, who will leapfrog St Patrick’s Athletic in second place in Premier Division table and move within two points of leaders Shamrock Rovers should they win their game in hand, play the Saints on Sunday in the second round of the FAI