Declan Devine reflects on 'wasted opportunity' after FAI Cup final defeat

Declan Devine believes that ‘fine margins’ cost his team the FAI Cup today, after St. Patrick’s Athletic came from behind to win the trophy for the second time in three years.

Devine, who led Derry City to a memorable FAI Cup triumph back in 2012, suffered his third defeat in the fifth FAI Cup cup final of his career in various roles, be it player, assistant manager or manager.

This year's cup final at the Aviva Stadium was sold out, with almost 44,000 fans in attendance, and Bohemians had the perfect start when they took the lead after just nine minutes, Jonathan Afolabi scoring from the penalty spot.

But that lead was short-lived with St. Pat’s equalising midway through the first half when Mark Doyle guided in a close-range header from Jake Mulreany’s free kick.

The second half began disastrously for Devine and Bohemians as another Mulreany free kick caused chaos, and Bohs’ defender Kristian Nowak put the ball into his own net to give St. Pat’s the lead for the first time.

Bohs struggled to create much in response, but substitute Jordan Flores almost created a piece of cup final magic, but his 30-yard free kick hit the outside of the post. The cup final was sealed with a third St. Pat’s goal just four minutes from time. Flores’ lost possession 30 yards from his own goal and Tommy Lonergan took full advantage, curling a fantastic finish past James Talbot. Each goal was completely avoidable according to Devine.

“We can't defend the way we defended today,” he said. “It's two set-pieces, it's unacceptable. It's been a bit of an Achilles Heel for us all season. For me the better team won on the day. We had a few chances, but S. Pat's were worthy winners because you can't defend in a cup final the way we defended today and expect to come away with silverware.” 

Devine, who has suffered the pain of FAI cup final defeat in 1997 and again in 2008, needed a win to secure European football for Bohemians next season after a disappointing sixth place league finish. But he felt his team lacked the intensity needed to win a cup final.

“It was disappointing the way we started the second half,” he said. “We spoke at half time about we didn't feel we played with an intensity and we sat off them and we didn't get our press right. It was too comfortable for St. Pat's at the back in the first half, especially after we scored. It's just a real wasted opportunity.

“On our behalf, we have got to be better with our game management, we have got to be better dealing with set-pieces; it's innocuous balls into the box, and to lose men and have people outjump us and lose headers, that's the most disappointing aspect, because we spoke all week about how it would be fine margins that would win cups.”