Declan Devine's Top 10 Derry City Signings

Unlike David Moyes taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson, Declan Devine followed on Stephen Kenny’s successful period when he was given his first chance to manage his home town club, winning the FAI Cup 2012 and securing European football the following season.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

During his two spells as manager, Devine has signed a host of players and given young players their first taste of senior football. Some players who just missed out were Peter Cherrie, Dean Jarvis and Dermot McCaffrey.

Fingers crossed this season’s new arrivals will be just as good, when things get back to normal. I would also like to point out that I selected my Top Ten before my colleague, Mr Collins!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

1. Rory Patterson (2012-14; 21 apps, 24 gls - Honours - FAI Cup): The striker was in superb form in the 2012 season scoring an incredible 24 goals in just 21 appearances and was a major success for Declan Devine’s side.

Patterson started the 2012 FAI Cup Final on the bench, but he really left his mark on the showpiece encounter against St Patrick’s Athletic.

The Strabane man came off the bench and netted a brace, showing great composure from the penalty spot and showed his superb attacking instincts to calmly round St Pat’s goalkeeper Brendan Clarke to slot home the winner.

2. Simon Madden (2012-13; 44 apps, 2 gls - Honours - FAI Cup): The defender joined from Dundalk and after that unhappy spell at Oriel Park, Madden, who had to take over from Candy Stripes stalwart Eddie McCallion, turned out to be one of the best full-back’s in the league.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Madden, played an impressive 44 games that season and his attacking ability was always a threat for Derry.

Declan Devine, Derry City manager.Declan Devine, Derry City manager.
Declan Devine, Derry City manager.

Always bombing down the right, the full-back would latch onto Ruaidhri Higgins’ cross field pass before creating chances for Rory Patterson and co. After two successful season’s the Dubliner moved home to join Shamrock Rovers.

3. David Parkhouse (2020; 39 apps, 19 gls Honours - Named in PFAI Team of the Year): Parkhouse, joined the Brandywell men from Sheffield United on an initial six month loan deal but in what was his first year in senior football, the teenager was superb.

The Northern Ireland U21 international scored an impressive 19 goals in 39 appearances and was a handful all season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

His work-rate and desire really summed up what Declan Devine wanted from his ‘new look’ side and for Parkhouse, the experience will help him throughout his professional career.

4. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (2019; 36 apps, 16 gls - Honours - Premier Division Golden Boot Winner): The Londoner took time to settle into life in the League of Ireland but once he did, he never looked back.

Junior became a fans’ favourite and really finished the season strongly.

His hat-trick on the final night of the season against Finn Harps sealed the league’s Golden Boot as the Candy Stripes secured European football and that treble against Ollie Horgan’s men saw him pip Dundalk’s Pat Hoban for the top goalscorer prize.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

5. Stewart Greacen (2011-13; 21 apps, 2 gls - Honours - FAI Cup 2012): Although Stephen Kenny signed the big Scot in 2011, it was Declan Devine who re-signed him in 2012.

Greacen was a rock at the back during that season, playing 21 games and scoring twice, one most memorably at the Aviva Stadium when he headed home Barry McNamee’s free-kick to equalise against St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup final.

However it was the centre-back’s all round game and experience which shone during that injury-hit campaign in particular.

6. Ciaran Coll (2019; 38 apps, 1 gls): Having joined from Finn Harps in January 2019, the talented left-back settled into his new Brandywell surroundings like a duck to water.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coll, who was skipper at Finn Park, was delighted when Paddy McCourt made the call to see if he wanted to make the switch.

During his first season at the Brandywell, in my opinion, he was Derry’s ‘Player of the Year’.

After sitting on the bench behind Patrick McClean, the left-back got his chance at Cork City. He was a consistent 7/8 out of 10 performer every week. one of the first names on the team sheet.

7. Greg Sloggett (2019; 38 apps, 2 gls): The midfielder had a host of clubs tracking him but Declan Devine, along with Paddy McCourt, convinced Sloggett he should make the move to the North West.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ex-UCD man, who shone during the Students’ First Division title winning campaign in 2018, was looking forward to his first taste of the Premier Division and he gave his all for the Brandywell men.

Sloggett netted two goals last season (against UCD and Dundalk) in his 38 appearances, but it was his dedication and desire which, in the end, got him a move to the champions.

8. Ciaron Harkin (2019; 39 apps, 5 gls): ‘Wee Jackie’ as he’s fondly known by has been a superb signing for Declan Devine.

His energy, desire and enthusiasm to play for the Candy Stripes has always been there and the minute he got the chance to leave Coleraine, where he also enjoyed playing, and return to the Brandywell, he jumped at the opportunity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Last season he netted five goals in 39 games, with a hat-trick against Finn Harps, to become the first Derry man to do such a feat.

9. Jamie McDonagh (2019; 33 apps, 4 gls): Former manager Kenny Shiels brought McDonagh to the Brandywell from Sligo Rovers, but it was Devine that got him to sign up for at least another two seasons.

McDonagh has continued to get better and better and although his missed quite a bit of last season through suspension, when he did play, he was always a constant threat.

The winger’s versatility in his game has also helped Devine’s side, as he has slotted into right-back on a number of occasions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

10. Ally Gilchrist (2019; 33 apps, 0 gls): After a disappointing spell at Shamrock Rovers, the Scot man, returned to the League of Ireland with something to prove and boy did he do that last season.

The centre-back struck up a superb partnership alongside Eoin Toal last year and even at times moved across to left-back when called upon.

Gilchrist, who has still to score his first goal for the Brandywell men, is one of the first names down every week on Declan Devine’s starting 11.