Michael Duffy: FAI Cup win is the best feeling I've had in football

​The Derry captain was consumed with emotion at the final whistle at the Aviva Stadium as he guided his hometown club to a seventh FAI Cup win in their 13th appearance in the Blue Riband showpiece thanks to Darragh Burns' first goal for the club on 69 minutes against Waterford.

Following a challenging season of adversity and change; a campaign which had promised so much, winning his fifth FAI Cup winner's medal was the perfect tonic as Duffy watched his teammates celebrate with their families and over 20,000 supporters who made the trip to Dublin 4 on Sunday.

Duffy joins club greats Liam Coyle, Peter Hutton and Kevin Deery as local men who have won the trophy three times for the Candy Stripes and he's relishing the celebrations expected to continue over the coming days.

"Unbelievable," he exclaimed. "What a day that was. What a feeling. When that whistle went it was the best feeling I've had in football.

"It was just so special, celebrating with all the team and my family on the pitch afterwards and all the fans. That's' what it's all about. I'm just so happy we won. I'll never ever forget this day." Captaining the team to the victory will live long in his memory but why does this one - his fifth- feel so special?

"Probably because of how the year went," he explained. "We had some tough times this year. To come together as a group and turn things around.

“Mark [Connolly] has been amazing too for us. Everyone – the staff and the players involved- got together over the last couple of months and it's meant everything to everyone.

"I think I was so emotional because of all the build-up from the whole year. I just knew I would be emotional today when we won because it meant so much. I've been thinking about this for weeks; for months to be honest. Things have been getting better at the club.”

"We've got the fans back on board and the numbers the came down in today was incredible. To bring 20,000 plus to the Aviva, a four-hour trip, and the amount of money they've put into it.

"Staying down for the weekend, buses. everything I'm just so happy we can bring this back to Derry and celebrate with them."

The Player of the Year nominee scored 12 goals in his last 11 games and netted five times during Derry's road to the Aviva but his teammate Burns stole the headlines with the winning goal.

"I'm so happy for Darragh. What a goal it was too. I know he's been a wee bit frustrated. He's wanted a goal and he just dug in. Even before the match I don't think he missed a shot in the warm-up. I just had a feeling it was coming for him and what a goal. I'm so happy for him, he's the hero today."

Celebrations continued last night at the homecoming in Guildhall in front of the fans and Duffy reckons those scenes are a taste of what's to come for the club with huge plans in store, beginning with the search for a new manager which begins in earnest.

"There's exciting times coming for Derry. To get to the cup final, this is the best day of the year. So to get that win I knew it would be very emotional for all of us

"We've got the new pitch already and there are a lot of plans for a training ground and stuff like that. Mark's come in and got things in motion and we're blessed to have Philip O'Doherty. I know he's always trying to emake the club better and do the right thing. I'm so happy for him.

"The amount of work he puts in for us and this club. I'm happy we can bring this back for him.

"Mark said he will probably go back up stairs next year and I think he will do an amazing job at that. There are exciting times ahead for Derry City."