Ruaidhrí Higgins: FAI Cup final hard-earned after tough road

Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins feels that a Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup final victory would be hard-earned, after coming through a difficult route to the final unscathed.

During their run to the Aviva Stadium, the Candystripes have seen off a resurgent St Pat's, the champions of the second and first tiers in Cork City and Shelbourne, as well as negotiating a tricky semi-final trip to Bohemians.

Their record is all the more impressive given that they won the four ties without conceding a goal, while finding the net a total of eight times at the other end.

The cup run has coincided with their league form tailing off, resulting in Shels winning the title in Derry's own back yard last Friday night, but Higgins isn't convinced that this adds an extra pressure ahead of their showdown with Drogheda United on Sunday.

"When you get to a cup final, there's always a huge responsibility to win, he said. "There's pressure to win. That's human nature, that's why we're in the game. I'd rather be going to Dublin on Sunday than not, that's for sure.

"If you look at the route that we've had to take to get to the final, I can't ever remember a more difficult route for a team. The players deserve so much credit. We've scored eight goals in the four games and conceded none against really, really good opposition, some of the best teams in the country.

"If we play well and win it we will have absolutely deserved to win it. St Pat's, away to Cork, Shelbourne - league champions - and away to Bohemians in Dalymount Park.

"If we play well on Sunday and win it then it would be an outstanding achievement."

Higgins and Derry will have recent cup-winning experience to draw on in this year's final, having dismantled Shelbourne 4-0 in the 2022 showpiece.

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