DERRY CITY: Ryan McBride was a great captain - Kevin Deery

The 27-year-old died on Sunday and Deery, who played with the centre-back in 2012, knew the first minute he saw him that he was destined for the top.

“It’s crazy and so hard to even talk about Ryan in the past tense,” he stated.

“When he first came to the club you could just see his will and hunger to do well.

“He just wanted to do well in life and do well in his football. One way or another he was going to succeed.

“He was a total, whole hearted player and I still can’t get my head around it to be honest.

“There are so many people that will need comforted at this shocking time.”

McBride came off the bench to help City, a team skippered by Deery that day, to FAI Cup glory.

“When he came on in that cup final you just saw the desire he had to make sure that we seen it out,” he added.

“He gave everything to the cause for us to win the cup that day.

“That was my last season with Derry more or less and I have fond memories of Ryan, because I knew he was going to go on and be a top player in the League of Ireland.

“He was a tremendous captain, but that has sadly been cut short.”