Sean Boyd admits Shelbourne ‘let themselves down’ on the big stage but vowed to come back stronger next season and win the cup.
The striker was powerless to prevent a Reds capitulation at Aviva Stadium as Derry City romped to a record breaking 4-0 win.
But as disappointing as it was Boyd, who was named on the PFAI Team of the Year, insists the Shels players won’t let one bad day at the office define their season.
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Boyd said: “It’s very disappointing. Such a big day. You build it up in your head and all week you’re probably talking to yourself, thinking I’ll be with the Cup on Sunday night.
“We let ourselves down a little bit. The goals we gave away, we weren’t good enough. Derry were deserved winners. They were the better team.”
Boyd continued: “All year I’ve talked to players from the league and they say that every week we’re hard to break down and hard to play against.
“But them scoring two goals in the first-half, and then a third, we lost momentum. The occasion could have got to a couple of players.
“It was an off day for us and they were on it. But the lads can be proud.
“Tomorrow it will be 50 weeks since we first came in. Everyone can still hold their heads high and look forward to next year.”
Shels boss Damien Duff will have his players back in the gym before Christmas as the pre-season plans ramp up.
And Boyd insists the Drumcondra club will benefit from their cup final experience and having stayed in the top flight in their first year back.
“I think we’ve 10 (players) or so who are there for next year and it’s a case of going again. The aim again is to be back here next season and on the winning side,” he said.
“The manager, I believe, is the best in the league. He’s fantastic. And there’s no doubt come pre-season that we’ll be right back on it.
“There will be new faces in the door and it’s something I’m already looking forward to.”
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