League Report: Dundalk 3 -1 Derry City

A rip-roaring game of football saw Derry City nose ahead in the opening minutes in Oriel Park before getting a schooling in resilience from the defending league champions Dundalk. The Lilywhites in the end ran out comfortable 3-1 victors over the Candystripes.

A somewhat surprising draw against Shamrock Rovers three days ago added to the pressure of the quick turnaround of fixtures for the home side. It meant anything short of a win could have allowed Cork City to leapfrog them in the table for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.

What ensued was a pulsating match that will help put some wind in the sails of the Irish champions ahead of their Europa League showdown with Israeli kingpins Maccabi Tel Aviv next Thursday in Tallaght.

Dundalk started the brighter and former Derry player Patrick McEleney could have opened the scoring in the fourth minute had he headed an excellent Daryl Horgan cross anywhere but into the hands of the City custodian Gerard Doherty.

However  it was the visitors who drew first blood with the very next move of the game. It was jitters galore on the Carrick Road when Lucas Schubert finished from close range. A second howler in the same week by ‘keeper Gary Rogers gifted Dundalk’s opposition the opening goal at Oriel Park.

A combination of good play from Rory Patterson and poor footing contributed to the goal; Patterson broke on the left, found Barry McNamee who forced a save from Rogers. Andy Boyle lost his footing at a critical moment and didn’t clear the ball as it bobbled out of the six yard box. The finish proved an easy assignment for Schubert to prod home.

The Lilywhites roused themselves and grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and before long, their pressure told and the game was level.

A quick move from the back found Horgan in space and he sent a tantalising low centre across the box. It was just behind striker David McMillan, but the late run of John Mountney saw him in the perfect position to thump home the Lilywhites’ first of the game.

McMillan forced a fine save for a corner in the next foray forward for Dundalk. From the resulting set piece, Dane Massey’s header rattled the woodwork but centre back Brian Gartland was alive to the rebound as Dundalk took the lead.

The Candystripes had significant passages of play in the second half but didn’t manage to test the Dundalk rear-guard.

The Lilywhites boss Stephen Kenny was seething as his side’s claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Paul McLaughlin approaching the hour mark. Max Karner took the ball out of McMillan’s path with his hand in a goalscoring position, but their grievances were soon forgotten when Horgan and McMillan combined for Dundalk’s third.

Horgan found himself one on one with Conor McDermott on the left and on his current form there was only going to be one winner. He dinked past the challenge and played a through ball for McMillan who converted on the spin with his left foot.

Dundalk players seemed to be queuing up for chances and had further efforts though Dane Massey, Andy Boyle, Horgan and the introduced Ciarán Kilduff but they couldn’t find a fourth goal.

With their cushion at the top of the league restored to eight points, albeit with two games more played than their sparring partners Cork, their focus will now be directed to Tallaght Stadium and their first home game of the Europa League group stages.

Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Stephen O’Donnell (Robbie Benson 80), Ronan Finn, Daryl Horgan, John Mountney (Chris Shields 75); David McMillan (Ciarán Kilduff 72).

Subs not used:  Gabriel Sava, Chris Shields, Paddy Barrett, Dean Shiels, Darren Meenan.

Booked: Ronan Finn (32), Stephen O’Donnell (52).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Niclas Vemmelund, Dean Jarvis, Aaron McEneff, Conor MCCormack, Barry McNamee, Rory Patterson, Conor McDermott, Ronan Curtis (Nathan Boyle 76), Lucas Shubert, Max Karner (Ben Doherty 67).

Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Harry Monaghan, Keith Ward, Josh Daniels, Cristian Castells.

Booked: None.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 2,561

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Daryl Horgan (Dundalk FC)