Gardaí get Kelly to final
fai.ie
David Kelly had one of the most unusual build-ups to Sunday's Cup final as the bad weather in Britain meant it was only with the help of the Gardai that he arrived at the game in time for kick off.
The striker, playing his last competitive game ever after becoming Tranmere Rovers assistant manager, started his day at 7:00am with a trip to Birmingham airport, but with flights cancelled he then opted to drive to Heathrow airport to get a connecting flight.
"I may have broken a few speed limits on the way, but having got there at 11:20 I was told I'd just missed the plane. However, they was a mistake and they plane was actually delayed. I eventually arrived in Dublin airport at 1:40 and was thinking that's fine I'll be in the ground and ready by 2:00 with an hour before kick off.
"But then we were told that there were no births so the plane just sat on the runway for a while. Eventually I got in and the Gardai were brilliant escorting me to the ground with 40 minutes before kick off.
It was a terrible start to the day and then I didn't play very well missing a great chance, but at least the result went right."
It is Kelly's first ever Cup medal and once he'd got over the day he had, he admitted that it was something that will take pride of place in his home. "It's fantastic and it is something I will always treasure. Derry City are a fantastic club and I am so happy that I could help them win the Cup in my last game."
Goal scorer Liam Coyle was very laid back about his contribution to the game. "It's great for the young players. It's not my first medal and now we've got to build on this. The last time we were here five years ago, we thought we'd be here every year and now we have to make sure."
When asked about his goal, the humble Coyle just said: "I didn't see it go in, I just directed it goalwards and then next thing I heard the roar."
His manager Liam Mahon praised Coyle saying: "It's great for him. He was been written off two years ago but to come back and score in a Cup final is great for him.
"For me it hasn't really sunk in yet because I have so busy telling all the players that the League is still important. It's great to have European football to look forward to but we have to be professional and stay focussed on the League."
