Declan Devine: 'Don't judge our whole squad on what's been served up this year'

The City boss praised his team's application as their season ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup quarter-finals at the Showgrounds.

And while he insists the mistakes made this season will be rectified as he looks to build for next year he defended those players who he believes gave their all for the shirt.

"I've already spoken to a lot of players and hope to retain a lot of this squad,"he said. "You can't judge the whole squad on what's been served up this year. I think we have a lot of great lads in that changing room that this club means a lot to and that will be the be all and end all moving forward.

"If this club doesn't mean something to you then you shouldn't be here but at the same time when we've got to make sure when we identify players and bring them to the club that they want to do everything that's required to play at a club of this magnitude."

Devine was 'gutted' to go out of the cup as Sligo progressed to a semi-final meeting with holders Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght but he commended his team for battling for 120 minutes despite a second quarantine period which ended on Monday.

"I think their application and effort tonight was fantastic. For long periods of the game we really took the game to Sligo and were very much on the frontfoot and played some really good performances.

"But again we lacked that cutting edge in the final third. (Cameron)McJannett's header crashed off the crossbar, Stevie Mallon had a chance just before he came off.

"Let's not forget for five weeks we didn't have any training which is unheard of in professional football.

"The players have been in the house for four weeks and then expected to play three games in the space of a short time with one or two training sessions under their belt.

"If we're judging it tonight I think the players deserve huge credit because I think they left everything out there.

"The penalties weren't of the standard we would've hoped for but tonight I asked them to show a bit of pride and show what the jersey means to people.

"I asked them to understand there are a lot of people who really care for this football club. I think tonight's performance showed what Derry should be about - effort, heart, aggression and our appetitie to win games and play a nice standard of football.

"In the short term for tonight's analysis I think they gave me everything I asked for. We just came up short. Everyone is absolutely gutted we've gone out of the cup but I can't fault the effort.

"We'll take what positives we can out of it but listen, there's a lot of work to be done now moving forward.

"It's been an absolutely insane year. We haven't done anything in five weeks but we'll sit down and talk and we certainly know the mistakes we made this year will have to be rectified for next year."