O’Brien appointed Shiels’ No. 2 at Derry City

Former Cockhill Celtic boss and Derry City striker, Donal O’Brien, has been appointed assistant manager to Kenny Shiels at the Brandywell club.

O’Brien is considered a perfect fit for the number two role given his previous association with the club as a player and his success at Intermediate level with Buncrana-based Cockhill Celtic.

The 46-year-old stepped down from the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds hot seat in the summer after overseeing one of the most successful periods in any Inishowen club’s history that included four Ulster Senior League titles.

The Dubliner spent four years as a player at Brandywell in the early 1990s, winning the PFAI Players Player of the Year Award in 1993, before going on to play for Glentoran, Glenavon and Crusaders in the Irish League.

He had also two spells with Finn Harps and played for North Perth Croatia in Australia.

A community youth worker, he is married and lives in Buncrana.