Tiernan Lynch will begin his Derry City reign with a daunting trip to face League of Ireland champions Shelbourne.

The Candystripes will travel to Tolka Park on 14 February for their opening game.

Damien Duff’s Shels beat Derry at the Brandywell to clinch the Premier Division title in the final game of the 2024 season last month, their first league triumph since 2006.

Derry went on to lose the FAI Cup final to Drogheda, which proved the final game of Ruaidhri Higgins’ tenure before Lynch’s arrival from Larne.

The opening weekend’s fixture programme also includes newly-promoted Cork City v Galway United and St Patrick’s Athletic v Drogheda United on 14 February, Sligo Rovers v Waterford on 15 February and Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers at Aviva Stadium on 16 February.

After travelling to Shelbourne, Derry will host Bohemians and Waterford before travelling to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Lynch’s side will host Drogheda in an FAI Cup final rematch on 11 April.

Derry will make the long trip to newly-promoted Cork City for the final game of the season on 1 November.

The full fixture list can be found here.