Sligo Rovers U19 2 - 1 Derry City U19
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Sligo Rovers kicked off their U-19 season Saturday afternoon with a home victory against Derry City.
A lively game saw Sligo Rovers create the first chance in the fourth minute when Ruairi Keating put Cian Brennan through but his shot went too high over the bar. In the 16th minute Colm Feeney won a corner for the Bit O'Red which was swung in by Brennan and almost deceived everyone when it went through Derry keeper Kevin McLoughlin's arms and out for another corner.
City's first chance came three minutes later when Conor Harkin took a short corner but Conor Tourish's effort went over the bar. A minute later Rovers captain Hugh McFadden headed over the bar from a Cian Brennan corner.
The breakthrough came in the 30th minute when Derry City won a free kick just outside the penalty box following a Michael Casey hand-ball. Cormac O'Brien stepped up and powered it straight through Murphy in the Rovers goal to put the Candystripes one up.
City managed to hold on to their lead for just six minutes when Ben McGarry received the ball in midfield. McGarry went on a run down the wing and his luck paid off when he took a great shot from the side of the box which hit the net to even things up at half time.
Michael Duffy had a chance to put Derry City back in front at the start of the 2nd half but his shot went over the bar. In the 52nd minute Sligo Rovers went in front for the first time when a scramble in the box following a free kick saw Ruairi Keating hit the back of the net with a close range tap in.
The final chance came for City when Duffy played a short pass to Cormac O'Brien from a free kick but he couldn't direct his shot on target and Rovers held on to take all three points.
Next up for Sligo Rovers is an away trip to Dundalk next weekend, while Derry City have a free weekend.
Sligo Rovers: Adam Murphy, Colm Callinan, Michael Casey, Hugh McFadden, Jake Dykes, Ryan McManus, Colm Feeney, Ben McGarry, Ruairi Keating (Eamon Dolan 69th min), Shane McGinty (Darren Kilcawley 63rd min), Cian Brennan.
Subs not used: Brendan Flynn, David Brick, Patrick Woulfe, Jack Selby, Gary Armstrong.
Derry City: Kevin McLoughlin, Cormac O'Brien, Sean Connolly, Keelan McLoughlin, Conor Barr, Nathan Boyle, Seamus Houghton, Michael Duffy, Conor Harkin, Thomas McCrossan, Conor Tourish
Subs not used: Michael Barr, Jason McKinny
