Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins says he would swap all his honours as a player for glory as a manager in this year’s FAI Cup.
The Ryan McBride Brandywell supremo has collected a stunning list of medals, including a Premier Division title, two FAI Cups and six League Cups.
But in his first full season in charge of the Candystripes, he is just 90 minutes at home to First Division Treaty United away from reaching the Blue Riband final.
READ MORE: Late late show as Derry City beat Shamrock Rovers 3-1 in FAI Cup quarter-final
Last night’s draw, which took place immediately after Derry’s 3-1 extra-time win over Shamrock Rovers, also pitted Waterford at home to Shelbourne.
Higgins said: “We have a job to do in the semi-final. It would mean the world to me.
“I would trade all of my players' medals in to pick up a winners medal at this football club.
“It means a lot more (as manager), it’s probably the responsibility of it. I’m very proud to manage this club.
“Nothing would make me prouder than winning a major trophy with this club.
“It’s a special club, that’s why I came here. Hopefully we have plenty of good nights to come. Treaty at home in the semi-final, we need to remain focused and kick on.”
Higgins admitted it was tougher than it needed to be to get past 10-man Rovers last night.
“We don’t make it easy for ourselves. If we go in at half-time 2-0 up and they're down to ten-men, they may not have the belief they had in the second half,” he said, referencing Will Patching’s first-half penalty miss.
“It was a great goal by Danny (Lafferty), and a fantastic strike from Brandon (Kavanagh).
“We’re in the semi-finals and that’s all that matters. Nights like these are why you’re in the game.”
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley, meanwhile, was deeply disappointed by both his side’s start to the game and by the decision by referee Rob Hennessy to send off centre-half Lee Grace.
“I thought first-half we were lucky to still be in the game,” said Bradley. “Derry could have been two or three up, maybe more to be honest.
“We started really poorly. But when we went down to 10 men we were excellent, we were really good. We showed what we should have showed with 11.
“But the start, the same on Thursday night and the same tonight, was nowhere near good enough for us.
“It happened on Thursday night, we were two-down after 20 minutes, and tonight we were three-down after 30 minutes. It’s definitely something we need to address.”
As for the penalty and red card, he added: “I think it’s really poor on both fronts.
“I have seen it back. They come together, for me it’s nowhere near a penalty.
“Then the sending off, I think we had Rob against Bohs and he did something similar, he sent someone off for very little. It was a really poor decision from my point of view.”
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