Question is can Derry build on quick return

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE:EVEN IN these most difficult of economic times when almost everyone seems to be hurting, the League of Ireland have more than their share of financial problems. Still, there is the occasional tale of a club successfully battling the odds that might serve as an inspiration for those burdened by troubles out in the "real" world.

Take Derry City: chronic fiscal mismanagement long denied by their leadership led to the club being cast from the ruling elite into the darkness of the game’s second tier.

With a speed, though, that has surprised many, City rebuilt and rejuvenated, injecting youth and fresh ideas into the operation, reconnecting with long-term followers and promptly winning promotion to the big league.

If Fianna Fáil can’t spot a lesson somewhere in there just now then it could be they’re just not looking hard enough.

Whether City can actually cope in the top flight is another thing and even Stephen Kenny, who has overseen the transformation of the first-team squad in the wake of so many departures, seems a little uncertain as the kick-off approaches.

Like last year’s champions, Shamrock Rovers, Derry’s inexperience told at times over the course of their campaign, with a young side making life difficult for themselves, most markedly in August and September when a run of seven league games yielded just six points.

Ultimately, though, their collective nerve held and they played their way out of a notoriously tough division in a way very few sides have managed.

The question now is whether they can push on at a level where quality football might be easier to aspire to but games will be a great deal harder to win.

“Yeah,” says Kenny, “some of the football we played last year was outstanding but people are unsure of how we’ll do. I’m not quite sure myself; Finn Harps and Cobh both went straight back down after winning the First Division but I think we’ll have a bit too much quality about us to let that happen.”

Harps and Cobh did have a few different things going for them when they came up but the addition of players like Ruaidhri Higgins, Gareth McGlynn (both back at the Brandywell from Bohemians) and Eamon Zayed certainly seems to give City a little too much experience and steel to struggle badly.

Whether the younger players in whom Kenny has placed such faith can step up the mark is, however, what will determine if the club do much more than tread water in their first year back up.

“There are some really talented young lads in the squad,” he says, “and they’ll play. James McClean, a left winger, he’s an outstanding talent, Ruairi Harkin, Michael McCrudden . . .”

The list goes on, with the Dubliner seeming to name all 11 of the squad who are under 20 years old.

“When the club went bankrupt and we had to start again on the playing side of things, the aim was to create a team from within the city, to get the club back up with that team and then to push on to challenge for trophies.

“So far, it’s going well and nearly everyone in the squad is from the area, although I felt I needed a centre half and a striker and that’s how I’ve ended up bringing in Stuart Greacen from Scotland and Eamon Zayed, both of whom have given us something we didn’t have before.”

Greacen was effectively brought in from Morton to replace Mark McChrystal who has done well since moving to Tranmere at the start of January. Zayed, of course, is better known in these parts, but perhaps more for his potential than his actual achievements.

With Sligo and Shamrock Rovers to come over the opening weeks of the campaign, the 27-year-old will get an early opportunity to start making his mark.

As for Kenny, he turned down offers that would have kept him in the top flight a year ago out of loyalty to a club that had been loyal to him not so long before. Now, the aim is for the pair of them to work their way back to the top together.

Premier Division Friday’s fixtures

Bray Wanderers v Bohemians Carlisle Grounds, 7.45pm

Derry City v Sligo Rovers Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm

Galway United v St Patrick’s Athletic Terryland Park, 7.45pm

Drogheda United v UCD United Park, 7.45pm

Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk Tallaght Stadium, 8pm