PATRICK Ferry says Derry City always had the belief that they could topple Letterkenny Rovers in Tuesday’s Knockalla Caravans Senior Cup final.
Odhran Kennedy netted the winner on 73 minutes after Ferry drew them level for a second time. Earlier Sean McDermott cancelled out a BJ Banda opener, but Derry took charge in the second half.
“It was a good victory and a good team performance,” Ferry told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.
“All the boys did well. It’s a brilliant win.
“It was tough going behind twice. The boys dug deep.”
Derry were missing the likes of Ronan Boyce, Jake Lemoignan, Brendan Barr, Caolan McLaughlin and Evan McLaughlin, who were on first team duty while Michael Harris had a watching brief due to an injury.
Ferry himself was name checked recently by senior manager Declan Devine and played for the Republic of Ireland schools against Australia earlier this year.
Ferry said: “A few boys were away with the first team and that was a downer. The boys who came in did really well to replace them. We showed good character.”
Banda had scored early on while Matty Harkin steered Rovers back in front right on the stroke of half time.
Even with that body blow, Ferry says Derry retained faith.
He said: “It was a sucker punch conceding in the last minute of the first half. Even at 2-1 down, we had the belief that we’d come back and win. The manager had great belief in us too.”
