Kenny steers the Derry revival

By Lyle Jackson

Stephen Kenny took the Derry City job in August 2004

If Derry City are crowned Eircom League champions on Friday night, it will complete a remarkable revolution at the club under manager Stephen Kenny.

Midway through last season Gavin Dykes resigned as boss, with Derry inevitably immersed in another battle against relegation.

At that stage Kenny was manager of Bohemians in his home city of Dublin, but in July he was sacked and two weeks later installed at the Brandywell.

What followed was an amazing transformation in the fortunes of the Candystripes.

Wins over Shelbourne and Bohemians helped steer Derry to safety once again.

But it was during the close season that Kenny really got to grips with things at the Brandywell.

He did it, not by completing changing the playing staff, but by radically changing the players' outlook.

Derry lifted the Eircom League Cup with a 2-1 win over Longford

Training became a daily routine as the club took on a full-time approach.

The Derry players who commuted hundreds of miles to the north-west, moved to the Derry area. For example, keeper David Forde and midfielder Alan Murphy relocated from Galway.

Kenny believed that would help bond the team, create a sense of unity and better understanding.

By the looks of things, he has got it right.

He did make some significant signings, notably striker Stephen O'Flynn from Cork City, ex-Drogheda star Barry Molloy and NI Under-21 Pat McCourt from Shamrock Rovers.

At the start of the Eircom League season back in March, Kenny said Derry were targeting a place in the top half of the table.

Things started well with four wins and a draw, but then April defeats to Shamrock Rovers and UCD, followed soon afterwards by a 2-0 reverse at Cork, suggested title ambitions were a little unrealistic.

But then came an unbelievable run as Kenny's team went 26 matches without defeat, coming to an end in the Carlsberg FAI Cup semi-final to Cork at Turner's Cross.

Derry's title fate will also be decided at Cork's ground, where a point in Friday's final game would be enough to see them crowned Premier Division champions.

The Candystripes have already won the League Cup, qualified for the All-Ireland Setanta Cup and European competition.

They want to finish the job on Friday. If successful, there will undoubtedly be another trophy heading to Derry - manager of the year.