Teenage Kicks, school anthems and a city united: Derry gears up for FAI Cup final

Elaine McGee - BBC News NISun, November 8, 2026 at 6:08 AM UTC

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It's a song that has become as synonymous with Derry City as the red and white stripes of the club's famous shirts.

And on Sunday, Teenage Kicks by The Undertones could ring out across Dublin's Aviva Stadium as thousands of Candystripes supporters cheer on their team in the FAI Cup Final.

In a remarkable coincidence, the band will be performing in Dublin the night before Derry City take on Waterford in Irish football's showpiece event.

The Undertones had booked their gig at the Olympia Theatre a year in advance, as part of their 50th anniversary tour.

Undertones bassist Michael Bradley says the band has long-established connections to Derry City

"It's real serendipity," bassist Michael Bradley told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, adding that there has "always been that good connection" between the two.

"We were always Derry City fans, and we would have watched games at the Brandywell in the 60s.

"We always included the team in artwork for our singles too. I remember writing Derry City FC in the corner of a record sleeve.

"In the music video for My Perfect Cousin, there was a Subbuteo reference and, of course, we wore the red and white stripes.

"It's a connection I am very proud of."

And while the Undertones' anthem will provide the soundtrack for supporters, the build-up to Sunday's final has already been making plenty of noise across the city.

Derry and Waterford will contest the Club Orange FAI Cup Final, with the Blues hoping to lift the trophy for the first time since 1980 and the Candystripes chasing their second cup win of the decade.

The FAI says ticket sales are approaching 35,000, with thousands expected to make the journey from the North West to Dublin.

In the city itself, cup final fever has taken hold, with primary schools embracing the occasion through a series of red and white days.

Derry City players and interim manager Mark Connolly have visited 25 schools over the past fortnight, giving young supporters the chance to meet the team they will be cheering on.

The club's Supporter Liaison Officer, Karen Pyne, who says the enthusiasm has been infectious.

"The players get so much buzz and happiness from the visits," she said.

"We class ourselves as a community club and we love seeing the youngsters in the Brandywell.

"They are the next generation of fans, and we have to showcase Derry City and what we are about to them."

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Teacher Christopher Martin and his class composed a new song for the team based on a cover of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody

At Greenhaw Primary and Nursery School, P7 pupils decided a red and white day called for something a little more ambitious.

With help from their teachers, they created It's the Cup that Really Matters - a Derry City reworking of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

Teacher and lifelong Derry City fan Christopher Martin said the pupils wanted to give the players something memorable ahead of the final.

"We know Derry City are a community club and we are a community school, so it just fits.

"It's a special song and it just creates lovely memories for the children."

Sunday will be Liam's 13th time seeing Derry City play in a cup final

Among those travelling on the day will be Liam Boyle, who has followed the team to every one of their cup finals.

Sunday will be his 13th - and he is hoping it won't prove unlucky.

"There's always a real sense of unity in the city during cup finals. It's palpable," he said.

"It means the world to me to be there.

"There's been a lot of up and downs this season. It's wonderful to be able to go to Dublin and support the team."

Superfan Braelin was just 9 weeks old when he first visited the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

For eight-year-old superfan Braelin, the occasion is already a familiar one.

Sunday's match will be his third Derry City cup final, having first visited the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium when he was just nine weeks old.

"I am so excited and I can't wait to go to the Aviva," he said.

"I think it will be 3-1 to Derry. I want to be captain of the team one day just like Michael Duffy.

"It's been my dream to play for Derry City since I was born."

And Duffy himself knows exactly what the occasion means to the city, saying the scale of support has been "incredible".

"The fans are going to Dublin in massive numbers," he told BBC News NI.

"We will go out on the pitch on Sunday and give everything for the club badge.

"The way this season has panned out, to finish it on a massive high and be able to celebrate would just be so special."

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