League Report: Dundalk FC 0 - 2 Derry City
Will Patching netted a penalty against his former club at Oriel Park Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)
Dundalk were officially relegated to the First Division after a 2-0 home defeat to Derry City courtesy of a Colm Whelan effort and a late Will Patching penalty.
Ex UCD striker Whelan netted his first goal of the season after almost 20 minutes when he deflected a Danny Mullen header beyond Ross Munro from close range after Michael Duffy’s corner kick found the head of the Scottish frontman. It was another ex Lilywhite who put the tin hat on proceedings as substitute Patching found the net from the penalty spot with just over ten minutes remaining to ensure the Candystripes left Oriel Park with all three points and remain in the hunt for the title.
With Dundalk needing a win to remain in the battle for ninth place with county rivals Drogheda United, Head Coach Jon Daly made just a single change to his starting lineup following a credible draw in Galway the previous week. Injury deprived the Dubliner of the services of midfielder Paul Doyle with Jad Hakiki coming in as his replacement.
For Ruaidhri Higgins, it was a trio of alterations on the back of a similar 1-1 draw in their previous game- a Ryan McBride Brandywell encounter with Sligo Rovers. Ciaran Coll, Will Patching and Patrick Hoban dropping out for Shane McEleney, Danny Mullen and Colm Whelan. Kilkenny native Whelan was making his first league start for the Candystripes and didn’t take long to make his mark- nudging in from a few yards out to break the deadlock on eighteen minutes.
Despite a few forays forward, the Lilywhites failed to really stretch Brian Maher in the visiting goal- the Dubliner dropping on a long range Jamie Gullan effort shortly before Whelan’s opener before watching an angled effort from the Scottish striker whistle past his far post later in the half. All the while, the title chasing Foylesiders were knocking on the door for a second goal with Ross Munro denying Whelan goal number two with a smart stop just before the break.
Not to be outdone, Maher saved well from a Jad Hakiki header before Munro excelled by batting away a wicked Diallo effort and, a few minutes later, thwarting Paul McMullan from the edge of the six yard box when a goal looked inevitable- Duffy again influential down the left hand side.
It was the quick feet of the ex Lilywhite winger in the Dundalk penalty area which led to City's crucial second- a rash tackle causing the felling of the Derry native and a shrill blast from Gavin Colfer’s whistle. Up stepped Patching to send Munro the wrong way and coolly slot the ball to the corner of the net before celebrating in front of the away fans.
A late header from Norman Garbett was well saved once again by Maher as City finished the night still in the title race with Dundalk falling out of the Premier Division at the other end of the table.
Dundalk: Ross Munro; Andrew Boyle, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh (Mayowa Animasahun 72), John Mountney; Robert Benson (Norman Garbett 79), Aodh Dervin, Jad Hakiki (Dara Keane 64), Daryl Horgan, Koen Oostenbrink (Ryan O'Kane 64); Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 72).
Subs not used: Felix Goddard, Luke Mulligan, Robert Mahon, Scott McGill.
Booked: Koen Oostenbrink (27), Aodh Dervin (49), Andrew Boyle (82), Norman Garbett (90).
Sent off: None.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly (Duncan Idehen 79), Shane McEleney, Andre Wisdom; Sadou Diallo, Michael Duffy, Paul McMullan (Jacob Davenport 90), Daniel Mullen, Adam O'Reilly; Colm Whelan (William Patching 64).
Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Conor Barr, Sean Robertson, Aaron Heaney, Patrick Hoban.
Booked: Mark Connolly (57), Duncan Idehen (90).
Sent off: None.
Referee: Gavin Colfer
Attendance: 2350
extratime.com Player of the Match: Adam O’Reilly
