Tiernan Lynch hails Derry City's bench power as injuries pile up

TIERNAN Lynch praised his beefed-up bench strength which significantly impacted the comeback win over Waterford as the Derry City boss manages injuries to key players for a trip to Tallaght Stadium.

Influential midfielder Carl Winchester will miss 'a number of weeks' due to a knee injury after receiving his scan results on Monday while Darragh Markey is also ruled out for Friday's clash against Shamrock Rovers as he nurses a hamstring injury.

Daniel Cleary of Shamrock Rovers in action against Carl Winchester during the 2026 Men's President's Cup final match between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

placeholder image — Daniel Cleary of Shamrock Rovers in action against Carl Winchester during the 2026 Men's President's Cup final match between Shamrock Rovers and Derry City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

With striker Liam Boyce missing for several months due to a calf tear and goalkeeper Brian Maher also sidelined for several more weeks with a broken wrist bone, Lynch will rely on his squad depth which served him so well last weekend in the 4-2 victory over Waterford.

James Olayinka, Henry Rylah, Adam O'Reilly and Dipo Akinyemi all came off the bench to help turn around a 2-0 deficit against the Blues. Akinyemi scored a powerful header, and Michael Duffy netted a hat-trick in the thrilling stoppage-time victory.

Carl Winchester pictured with his midfield partner James McClean, is set to miss several weeks due to a knee injury. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Lynch has invested heavily in the close season and has many more options off the bench as the Brandywell side attempts to wrestle the league title from Rovers.

"I know there's a lot of frustration and probably no one is more frustrated than us as a group," Lynch said about the opening four matches.

"You want to dominate those games and have things clicking the way you're working on daily, but unfortunately that's just not how football works. You're in a situation now where you have to take the good with the bad.

"There are many good things we're doing; there [are areas] where we need to improve. When things aren't going the way we want them to we're able to freshen that up and change that a little bit.

BENCH POWER . . . Dipo Akinyemi came off the bench to score against Waterford. Photo by Kevin Morrison.

"The strength in depth probably made the difference on Friday night when they came on."

The City boss once again admitted he isn't yet fixed on his best starting eleven due to injuries and players returning to full fitness. However, with new signing Barry Cotter on board and Cameron Dummigan back in contention after a long lay-off, it gives him plenty to consider.

"I'd probably be telling you lies to say we know our best 11 at the moment. I think there are lots of things going on and lots of moving parts.

"Obviously Brian Maher's not fit. Barry Cotter doesn't have enough games under his belt. Dipo probably doesn't have enough games under his belt.

"Gavin Whyte probably doesn't have enough games under his belt. Cameron Dummigan is back in contention again, so there are lots of things going on in the background.

"There are many good signs moving forward but we are where we are right now. We are where we are right now and great credit goes to the ones who are in there playing and doing what they're doing.

"I still think it's very early in the season. As long as we can keep trying to improve as the days and the weeks go by.

"Carl Winchester and Liam Boyce will both be out for several weeks. Darragh Markey is out for another week or two but whenever you get those boys fit and get other boys up to speed, it's definitely going to [create] good competition for places."