Derry City manager Stephen Kenny has been praising his players for their success after securing European football at the Brandywell for next season. The Candystrips took the required point last weekend in the 1-1 draw with St. Patricks Athlete at Inichicore. It was Stephen McLaughlin who grabbed a calamitous equalizer for his side. The game was turned on its head in the 73rd minute as St. Pats goalkeeper Chris Bennion failed to see McLaughlin behind him and rolled the ball in front of him to clear forward. McLaughlin ghosted in from behind and slotted the ball into an empty net. Derry has experienced the European footballing buzz under Stephen Kenny before. In the 06/07 season they reached the 1st Round of the Uefa Cup thanks to wins over IFK Gothenburg and Gretna FC in the qualifiers. Their journey that year came to end at the hands of Paris Saint Germain in the French capital. After holding Paris to a nil all draw at the Brandywell, Derry lost 2-0 in the second away leg. At the end of the 2009 season Derry were demoted to the first division, owing to huge debts which breached their participation agreement. In two years the club have climbed back to fight at the top of the Premier Division, lift silverware in the form of a League Cup and secure European football for 2012.
Manager Stephen Kenny says the club has made good progress.
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