John Quigg says that the Ulster Senior League has proved a perfect breeding ground for Derry City’s next generation.
City have already seen a lot of players graduate to the senior team from the USL side. The late Ryan McBride, Barry McNamee, Michael Duffy, Conor McDermott and Ronan Curtis all cut their teeth in the USL.
“This League has been fantastic for us because it’s men they’re playing against,” Quigg said.
“Garbhan Friel could play at a higher standard, Gerry Gill and these boys have played at a high level.
“This level shows our boys where they have to go to get to for the first team. The thing is that it gets the players from A to B and it’s fantastic for what we’re about at Derry. Our aim is to get the next Mickey Duffy or the next James McClean.
“These are great games for these kids and it’s great for the League, too, having the two senior clubs in it.”
Jimmy Bradley’s goal won the final for Cockhill and Quigg had no complaints about the result.
He said: “You never want to lose Cup finals. The first half was touch-and-go. They got a goal from a set play and they’re fantastic at that.
“We got punished. Someone missed the guy at the back stick and it came back in. Cockhill worked their socks off. Big (Garbhan) was fantastic for them and the experience of Mark Moran and Gerry Gill was brilliant.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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