Ruaidhri Higgins hails teenager Tiernan McGinty after debut goal

Ruaidhri Higgins insisted that Tiernan McGinty earned his Derry City senior debut due to the hard work he put into training in the lead up to last night’s game against Cork City.

The 17-year-old came off the substitutes’ bench for Jordan McEneff on 84 minutes and went on to seal the win for the Candystripes with a goal on 90 minutes. In the right place at the right time to finish off Ben Doherty’s good approach play, McGinty side-footed in his first senior goal to help seal Higgins' 50th win as Derry City manager. 

It was a special moment for McGinty and his family. At 17 years, 151 days, he is now Derry City's youngest Premier Division goalscorer since David McDaid (16 years, 341 days) scored against Longford on 9 November 2007 (courtesy of StattoLOI).

Tiernan is also the youngest Premier Division goal scorer so far this season.

Last August, he signed a professional contract at Derry City having moved to the Brandywell from Finn Harps in early 2022.

Higgins admitted it was a special moment for everyone.

“A lot of players got into the team by how they trained this week, and I mean that. Some of the performances in training this week were excellent and they got their rewards,” he explained.

“It’s amazing for Tiernan at just 17 to come on and play for 10 minutes and to get a goal. I assured him it wasn’t that easy after the game, but it’s an amazing moment for him. He’s got that athleticism to make it into the box. He’s one of the young lads we signed to a professional contract and he came in again this week and trained with us and he was absolutely brilliant in training, hence why he got on the pitch and got his goal. It was amazing from Ben Doherty to set it up as well.”