Late Derry City legend Mark Farren to be honoured at Irish Cup Final

The wife of the late Derry City legend Mark Farren is to lead the Glenavon team onto the pitch in next month’s Irish Cup Final being played at Windsor Park in Belfast.

It is the latest tribute to the Candy Stripes’ all-time leading scorer who died on 3 February last following a lengthy battle against cancer. He was aged 33.

The Greencastle man had led the Lurgan Blues out in the competition's final back in 2014 when they defeated Ballymena United 2-1.

The club is to honour him again by allowing his wife Terri-Louise to lead them out against Linfield for 7 May decider.

Farren was named the League of Ireland Players' Player of the Year in 2005 and went on to become Derry's record goalscorer in 2012 before joining Glenavon in 2013.

He was initially diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in December 2008 but continued to play on for Derry City until October 2009.

After undergoing surgery, he returned to Brandywell in the summer of the 2011 and broke the club's scoring record a year later shortly before signing for Glenavon.

He was named the Irish League's Player of the Month in April 2013 but had to stop playing later that year in order to undergo more surgery.

Derry City have retired his number 18 shirt in his honour and he is to have the stand in the new-look Brandywell Stadium named after him.

Tickets for the final are priced at £15 (£8 concession) and will be available through Ticketmaster from tomorrow.