Derry City chairman open to return of All-Ireland Setanta Cup competition

Derry City's Simon Madden and Patrick McEleney pictured after the club's penalty shootout defeat in the Setanta Cup Final.

The competition, which featured clubs from the Irish League and League of Ireland, hasn’t been played since 2014 when Sligo Rovers lifted the trophy.

Derry’s memorable 3-1 win over Linfield at Brandywell in 2012 brought with it the biggest gate receipts the club received since Mr O’Doherty took over as Chairman in December 2009.

And while there has been muted calls for its resurrection from certain quarters, Mr O’Doherty insists he would be delighted to see its return.

Derry's Rory Patterson gets a late opener at the Oval in Belfast during the 2012 Setanta Cup Final.

“The FAI haven’t said anything to us yet about it but I would be delighted to see the Setanta Cup back,” said the Chairman. “It was a fabulous way of bench-marking the League of Ireland and Irish League.

“At the time we beat Linfield at the Brandywell, none of us will forget that night, that was our largest attendance since I’ve been chairman of the football club, so there is a huge demand for it.

“I think part of the problem was, to be quite frank, the Irish League teams just weren’t winning it very often and tended to lose interest in it but I’d be delighted to have it back.”

Derry City boss, Declan Devine guided the club to the final back in 2012 when losing on penalties against Crusaders at the Oval and he admits it’s something which still frustrates him.

Derry City players applaud the travelling support at Windsor Park.

“I felt we should’ve won. That was something which ragged me for a long time and still does because I believed that Derry City was a club that should’ve been All-Ireland champions. It would’ve been historical and hopefully that competition comes around again and we get another crack at it.”