FAI Cup final: ‘Emotionally it is tough right now’ – Derry boss Higgins

Higgins was frustrated that they were unable to do better with the early chances created and at the manner of the goals Derry conceded.

“We had a couple of good moments and chances at 0-0 and in cup finals you have to take them,” he added.

“Then we concede from a set play and from a penalty and we’ve given ourselves an uphill task and it is a real tough end to the season and a tough one to take.”

A huge consequence of the cup defeat and fourth-place finish is that the Candystripes will not play European football next year.

Higgins is adamant they will come back better next year after a period of soul searching.

“We have a bit of time to reflect in the next week or two and see where things are at, as you can imagine it is tough to speak now,” he continued.

“It’s easy to lie down in tough moments, but we’ll dig deep and keep fighting and come back stronger.”

Derry midfielder Michael Duffy echoed his manager’s sentiments by admitting that the defeat in a game they went into as favourites “hurts a lot and will do for a while”.

“It’s been a real tough few weeks, we could get over the [disappointment of the] league one because we had this to look forward to,” he said.

“This is really tough with the position we were in a few weeks ago to where we ended up. It’s difficult to know what to say.”