Irish international Matt Doherty’s Wolves look a really well established English Premier League outfit. Set for a top half finish in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, Wanderers continue to go from strength to strength. They may have gained promotion from the Championship last season but they were left heartbroken at the weekend. For Doherty, their FA Cup semi-final defeat to Watford is too familiar a feeling.
Matt Doherty of Wolverhampton Wanderers nods past Heurelho Gomes of Watford to give Wolves the lead in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
The right back was spotted by Wolves when playing for Bohemians against them in a pre-season friendly. Having never made a first team appearance for Bohs, he was invited for a trial. The Midlands side signed him from the Dubliners for a minimal fee, supposedly in the region of £75,000.
Sent up to Scotland
In January 2012, Doherty signed on loan for Pat Fenlon’s Hibernian in order to gain some more first-team experience. A total of 17 appearances followed, in which he scored twice for the Hibees. But the last game of his loan spell is one he won’t forget for all the wrong reasons.
The all-Edinburgh final will never go unnoticed in Gorgie. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)
Doherty was one of the back four which started the 2012 Scottish Cup final loss to city rivals Hearts. The biggest game of his young career and the biggest game in Hibernian’s history saw them smashed 5-1 by the Jambos. The first all-Edinburgh final since 1896 saw Hearts get the better of Hibs once more.
Despite the loan spell ultimately ending in heartbreak, Doherty claimed that it was still a beneficial experience.
Misery for the Midlands side
Fast forward seven years and now an Irish international, Doherty’s Wolves fell to an extra time defeat to Watford in heartbreaking fashion. Having nodded Nuno Espirito Santo’s side in front before Raul Jimenez superbly doubled it, the Hornets came back from 2-0 down against Doherty’s Wolves to progress.
Watford legend and club captain Troy Deeney smashed home the Hornets’ equaliser at Wembley in stoppage time. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
A great lob from Gerard Deulofeu got Javi Gracia’s side back in the match. The drama didn’t stop there as Troy Deeney’s stoppage time penalty took the game to extra time. The Spanish winger would grab his second goal in the first half of extra time to prevent Doherty going up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
With Wolves now consigned to a mid-table finish, an FA Cup final would’ve been the perfect finish to a so far impressive season. Doherty could’ve had the chance to go up against some of the best players in the world. Instead, he’s left waiting for the first cup victory of his career following his Hibernian heartbreak.