President’s Cup: Shamrock Rovers 0 Derry City 1 (Markey 33)
As the President’s Cup was being presented to Derry City, James McClean moved easily among the Shamrock Rovers crowd at Tallaght Stadium, even helping one young fan take a selfie.
In terms of star power, it felt like the League of Ireland had found its replacement for Damien Duff.
McClean didn’t speak to the written media afterwards. The 36-year-old cited an issue with one Irish football correspondent, dating back to 2017, before giving a separate interview to RTÉ about his new role in midfield.
“I’ve played in midfield before, but higher up. It’s something I’m obviously going to get used to. I’ll work hard at it, I’ll grow into the role.”
He also took to social media to highlight a chant from Rovers fans: “Getting called an orange b*****d by your fellow country men, stay classy.”
In boxing parlance, this was a useful sparring session for both clubs as the emergence of Victor Ozhianvuna briefly intersected the final act in McClean’s storied career.
Derry manager Tiernan Lynch had earlier in the week labelled the fixture a “glorified friendly” but there were seven yellow cards in a contest that was, at times, overly competitive. Even Rovers manager Stephen Bradley was booked before half-time as a 4,711 attendance saw enough to highlight March 6th on the calendar.
That is when the Candystripes return to Tallaght for a Premier Division tie that already feels like a six-pointer in the title race.
Overall, there was a preseason feel to proceedings, albeit with the odd silky touch or tough tackle. Like when Jack Byrne cut down McClean after his fellow Republic of Ireland international deceived Ozhianvuna with a delicate stepover. Byrne was duly cautioned.
Lynch has rebuilt the Derry squad that finished runners-up to Rovers in 2023 and 2025. Besides the return of the McClean brothers, with Patrick starting at centre half, other new signings Darragh Markey, Joshua Thomas and former Bohemian James Clarke had the Hoops on alert from kick-off.
Rovers have hardly stood still under Bradley with their defence of both the league and FAI Cup to be led by graduates from the Roadstone academy.
Shamrock Rovers’ Victor Ozhianvuna and Darragh Markey of Derry City. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
Three players who featured at the Under-17 World Cup in Qatar last November started here; Alex Noonan got the nod ahead Ed McGinty in goal, Max Kovalevskis looked dangerous coming off the right wing while Ozhianvuna played a more central role.
This season is being billed as Ozhianvuna’s breakout campaign before he completes a €2 million move to Arsenal in January 2027. The teenager played an unfussy link role, although there were flashes of brilliance like when he turned on a sixpence to leave McClean in his wake.
“The amount of times Vic stops then starts and just goes by players, and that’s on the back of the heavy week’s training and the heavy pitch,” said Bradley. “The final bit was a little bit off because of the tiredness but you’ll see a lot more of him [this season].
“Max picked up a knock, but if it is not too bad you’ll definitely see a lot more of him too. He gives us real pace, and energy.”
Michael Noonan was an unused substitute, not because the teenager is about to sign for German club TSG Hoffenheim but rather due to a “little knock”.
“Ask me right now, Michael is in our plans for Dundalk next Friday,” said Bradley, despite the January transfer window closing on Monday evening. “48 hours, things happen quick, don’t they?”
Back and forth went the midfield duels until McClean beat Kovalevskis down the left and his low cross invited Markey to blast a half-volley beyond Noonan. As the Derry players huddled near the corner flag, McClean celebrated by himself, arms spread wide in front of the hard-core Rovers fans.
It would have been 2-0 six minutes into the second half only McGinty, having replaced Noonan, denied Adam O’Reilly with a fine save off his chest. The former Ireland under-21 goalkeeper kept Rovers afloat on 65 minutes when he blocked Thomas’s shot, again from point-blank range, after the Welsh striker hared away from Pico Lopes.
McGinty removed any notion of Noonan usurping him come the league opener at home to Dundalk by parrying a Kevin Dos Santos effort in injury time. The Portuguese winger flashed the rebound wide of an empty net.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Noonan (McGinty 46); Cleary, Lopes, Matthews (Brennan 64), Kovalevskis (Grant 46), Malley (Healy 46), Byrne (Watts 46), O’Sullivan; Ozhianvuna, Mulraney; McGovern.
DERRY CITY: Maher; Bannon (Doherty 80), P McClean, Slevin, Fleming; Clarke (Dos Santos 79), Winchester (O’Reilly 46), J McClean; Markey, Thomas (Rylah 88), Duffy.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).