League Report: Finn Harps 1 – 2 Derry City

Will Patching celebrating scoring against Finn Harps in Ballybofey

Will Patching celebrating scoring against Finn Harps in Ballybofey Credit: Clare McCahill (ETPhotos)

Stuart Connolly reports from Finn Park

Will Patching netted his fifth and sixth goals of the season to record another win on the road for Derry City, this time overcoming their near-neighbours Finn Harps at Finn Park.

He opened the scoring from the spot inside ten minutes with Finn Harps levelling courtesy of an Ethan Boyle header. Patching hit a superb free kick right before the interval which turned out to be the winner as Derry and Harps swap places in the table.

Fans were back at Finn Park - inside the ground that is with many gathering at the fence during previous fixtures. It may only have been 100 spectators in the official attendance but it was something that delighted everybody involved.

Harps were victorious in the last encounter between the two teams, their first ever at the Brandywell and after their draw away in Tallaght Stadium last Friday manager Ollie Horgan made just one change with Johnny Dunleavy starting.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side also drew their last game 1-1 and the Derry manager made two changes for the second Northwest Derby of the season.

Both sides came flying out of the blocks treating the few fans inside to an entertaining first half. Harps fashioned a chance inside the opening 60 seconds but a lobbed effort from Tunde Owolabi had just a bit too much on it.

Just a few minutes later and at the opposite end of the pitch, Derry were awarded a penalty after David Parkhouse was brought down by Ethan Boyle following a cross. Patching stepped up and fired low into the bottom right corner beyond the grasp of Mark McGinley.

Keeping with the competitive start to the match, Finn Harps found their leveller on the quarter hour. A well worked corner routine was headed back across goal by Shane McEleney and towards goal by Kosovar Sadiki with Boyle getting the decisive touch from point blank range to equalise.

In the next chances to come at either end as the game approached the half hour, Owolabi fired over for Harps with his strike partner Adam Foley also firing wide following a solo run from just outside his own box. Parkhouse squandered a free header for the visitors in between the two chances.



Patching had a goalbound free kick saved shortly after the half hour but ten minutes later another dead ball situation resulted in his sixth goal of the campaign. After a foul on the edge of the area by Mark Coyle, the Derry Midfielder lined up his strike and fired over the wall and into the top left corner, giving McGinley no chance.

The second half got off to a lively start as the hosts pushed for a second leveller of the game but their chances were blocked at the source on more than one occasion. 

The home side also had calls for a penalty after Owolabi was brought down in or close to the area but referee Neil Doyle wasn’t interested despite the protests from many fans and coaches.

Patching was heavily involved throughout and the man on loan from Dundalk hit yet another goal bound free kick shortly after the hour, though this one was palmed away by McGinley.

Harps’ main threat to level the match came via set-pieces or long throw-ins, some of which were cleared while others were fired wide or blocked.

With the second half being dragged to the finish, Derry made a late change to shut up shop with defender and former Finn Harps man Ciaran Coll replacing Parkhouse. Harps battled but ultimately fell to their fifth home defeat of the season. Derry meanwhile recorded their fifth away win of the campaign.



Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Kosovar Sadiki, Shane McEleney, Ethan Boyle, Johnny Dunleavy (Ryan Rainey 81); Mark Coyle (Conor Barry 58),  Will Seymore, Barry McNamee, Karl O'Sullivan (Sean Boyd 78); Tunde Owolabi, Adam Foley (Tony McNamee 81).

Subs not used: Luke McNicholas, Nathan Logue, Stephen Black, Joel Bradley Walsh, Ryan Connolly.

Booked: Mark Coyle (32)

Derry City: Nathan Gartside; Daniel Lafferty, Cameron McJannet, Eoin Toal, Ronan Boyce; Ciaron Harkin, Jack Malone (Darren Cole 73), Will Patching, William Fitzgerald, James Akintunde; David Parkhouse (Ciaran Coll 84).

Subs not used: Jack Lemoignan, Joe Thomson, Marc Walsh, Danny Lupano, Patrick Ferry, Caolon McLaughlin, Brendan Barr.

Booked: Darren Cole(75)

Referee: Neil Doyle

Attendance: 100

extratime.com Player of the Match: Will Patching (Derry City)

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