Derry City Player of the Season 2015
VOTE FOR YOUR PLAYER OF THE SEASON
ANOTHER season has come and gone and while Derry City have rarely hit the heights in 2015, there have been some games, goals and performances to remember. At the end of Friday night’s game at Longford Town, the players will head for a well-deserved break, while the fans will take stock and wonder just what will happen in 2016. Who will stay and who will go? What can be improved? Can Derry hold on to their best players? But before that period of contemplation, the Derry News is asking fans to vote on their 2015 Player of the Season. It’s entirely your choice, but we’ll give you a few pointers before you make your decision.
MARK TIMLIN With 12 goals and five assists this has been an incredible year for Mark Timlin. The Buncrana lad has really stepped up in the absence of Rory Patterson and Michael Duffy, finishing as the club’s top goal scorer for 2015 with 12 goals. Some of his goals have been spectacular and he has also rattled countless crossbars throughout the season. It has been a brilliant year for Timlin. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: Scoring six goals in three games against Bohs, Longford and Galway.
PATRICK McELENEY Patrick McEleney has been the heartbeat of Derry City this season. When he plays really, Derry City play well. His driving runs from midfield, his ability to skip past opponents as if they aren’t there and his shooting and passing abilities made him key to the club’s ambitions this year. When McEleney got injured against Bohs earlier in the year he missed four and a half games before he returned against Sligo Rivers. The Candy Stripes failed to score a single goal in his absence. He has only found the net twice this season, but he leads the way in assists with 12. The club will have to do everything they can to keep him at the club next season. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: His brilliant curling effort recently against Bray Wanderers.
CONOR McCORMACK HE only joined the club at the end of July, but think of the impact he has had since then. The Candy Stripes were in desperate trouble around the time of the mid-season break, but the decision to bring McCormack in was arguably Peter Hutton’s most important of the season. Immediately Derry looked more solid as they had a player who could play in front of the back four and put in the work that Barry Molloy had been doing for years. His energy, his ability to put in a tackle, and his ability to do the simple things in front of the City defence has changed the team’s fortunes around significantly. A key figure in City’s survival. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: A barnstorming display against Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell. Dragged his tam back into the game after Bray had threatened a comeback from 2-0 down.
RYAN McBRIDE Derry City’s captain had a stop-start few months at the start of the year due to suspension and injury, plus the fact that he had to add the responsibility of leading the team onto his regular duties. But ever since the midway point of the season he has been superb. His courage when throwing himself into tackles and headers is second to none, and he remains the type of blood and thunder defender every fan loves. His tackle at Cork City, which sent two opponents flying into the air, will be talked about for years to come. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: One ball, two Cork players. McBride took them all out.
CIARAN O’CONNOR Lie Conor McCormack, O’Connor has only been at Derry City a few months, but his impact has been has been significant. Until his arrival, Derry lacked someone with power, skill and tenacity up font and it cost them countless points in the first six months of the season. The Anthony Elding experiment failed and with no one to lead the attack, Derry failed. That all changed with the introduction of O’Connor, who has been superb since he came in on loan from Dundalk. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: His debut at Galway United, an astounding performance and a brilliantly taken goal.
GERARD DOHERTY While Shaun Patton has impressed on his few appearances this year, the presence of Gerard Doherty remains a great reassurance to the Derry players and fans. The Creggan man is a real leader at the back and his ability to take the pressure off his defenders, particularly in recent weeks, has been a key component of City’s revival. He has made countless important stops at crucial stages in games this year and remains one of the best goalkeepers in the country. MOMENT OF THE SEASON: At 0-0 against Shamrock Rover at the Brandywell, Damien Duff went through on goal, only to be denied his first Rovers goal by Doherty. Derry went on to win the game 1-0.