Prem: Dundalk 1 - 3 Derry City

Dundalk’s wait for a home victory goes on as they went down 3-1 to the impressive Derry City on a cool Friday night at Oriel Park.

The hosts opened the scoring after 20 minutes when Vinny Faherty struck brilliantly into the net but were pegged back ten minutes later when Rory Paterson equalised from the penalty spot. Barry McNamee gave the visitors the lead with a wonderful effort from the edge of the box just before the hour mark and Paterson scored his second spot kick of the evening with 20 minutes left on the clock to cut the gap to Sligo Rovers to just two points.

Dundalk made one change from the side which rescued a point against Limerick last week with captain Stephen O’Donnell returning from injury to replace John Mountney while Derry City also made one change from the side which recorded a facile victory over Bohemians with Rory Paterson coming in for Patrick McEleney.

Dundalk had the better of the opening stages and almost went in front after five minutes when Keith Ward found Kurtis Byrne who had time to tee himself up but pulled his volley wide of Ger Doherty’s goal from eight yards. The home side remained in control but Derry City always looked dangerous on the break but failed to create anything of note.

Then Dundalk opened the scoring just before 20 minutes. The impressive Ward, who had been causing numerous problems for the visitors, found space around 20 yards from goal. He played a perfectly weighted ball which split the defence and it found Vinny Faherty who paced himself and shot brilliantly to the top left corner.

The goal appeared to settle the Lilywhites but as the half wore on the Candystripes began to get a foothold in the game and were awarded a penalty on 31 minutes. A long ball into the box from Barry McNamee was headed away by Mark Rossiter however referee Neil Doyle adjudged Rossiter to foul former Lilywhite Michael Rafter and awarded the penalty kick.

Up stepped Rory Paterson and he made no mistake from the spot and shot to right corner of the net, despite the outstretched arm of Peter Cherrie.

Derry City appeared to be more comfortable in possession then but failed to create anything of note and the half petered out with the sides all square.

Straight after the re-start, Derry City almost took the lead. A sweeping move finished with McNamee hit a fierce shot which was well held by Cherrie in the Dundalk goal. The Foylesiders began to dominate and it wasn’t long before completed the turnaround when a corner from Paddy Kavanagh broke to that man McNamee who hit a rasping right footed effort to the top corner of Cherrie’s net  on 56 minutes.

The Lilywhites responded well and substitute Darren Meenan hit a low drive from just inside the box but it was straight at Doherty. Derry City went further in front when they were awarded a second penalty.

After Simon Madden recovered a hopeless ball on the right hand side, he managed to cross and if fell to Thomas Crawley who shot at John Sullivan. Referee Doyle believed that it struck Sullivan’s hand and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Paterson took once more and the same result, he fired to the bottom right hand corner.

The game turned on its head when Derry City were reduced to ten men as Doyle produced a straight red card for hauling down Faherty who was through in on goal.

After the dismissal, Dundalk weren’t able to take advantage with Patrick Hoban and Andy Boyle going closest with headers which both went wide. Meenan had another effort saved by Doherty in the final stages but that was as good as it got for the Lilywhites and the Candystripes closed out the match and secured their fifth consecutive victory.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Mark Rossiter (Patrick Hoban 76), Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; John Dillon, Keith Ward (Darren Meenan 60); Kurtis Byrne (Tiarnan Mulvenna 72), Vinny Faherty.
Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Chris Shields, John Mountney, Stephen McDonnell.

Booked: Byrne (37), O’Donnell (40), Dillon (65)

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Simon Madden, Shane McEleney, Ryan McBride, Thomas Crawley; Patrick Kavanagh (Michael Duffy 86), Barry Molloy, Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry McNamee; Michael Rafter (Patrick McEleney 77), Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: James Gallagher (GK), Dermot McCaffrey, Mark Griffin, Ryan Curran, Conall Kelly.

Booked: McBride (38), Crawley (68), G Doherty (84).
Sent off: S McEleney (74).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: 1,780

Extratime.ie man of the match: Barry McNamee (Derry City).