- Chris McNulty
- Fri, Aug 29 2008
DERRY City continue to hold the Indian sign over Finn Harps as the Candystripes overcame their Donegal neighbours in tonight's North West derby.
Mark Farren was the goal hero for City as it was his 56th minute header that separated the teams at the conclusion of what was a relatively low-key derby by the Foyle in which the visitors never threatened. Farren headed home a cross by Niall McGinn nine minutes into the second-half to send Harps home pointless from derby day yet again.
They won't have been helped by the sight of Conor Gethins hobbling away on crutches having been forced off in the first-half.
Despite being available for selection having served a ban against Cobh, Stephen Parkhouse had to be content with a place on the bench in a Harps side that showed just one change. Hegarty had planned to keep faith with the same eleven, but was denied that chance as Aaron Labonte was a late withdrawal. Marc Mukendi came in at right-back.
Derry boss Stephen Kenny, however, had the luxury of naming an identical line-up for the second game in succession. That meant there was no place from the start for former Harps star Kevin McHugh.
Chances early on were at a premium, though it was the Candystripes who threatened first and then threatened often in the first-half. Kevin Deery whizzed one over the bar on 21 minutes after a clever cut-back from Gareth McGlynn, who caused Harps his fair share of bother in part one. The Inishowen man then had a cross-come-shot deflected off the body of McCafferty and over for a corner while, in a rare foray forward, Marc Mukendi headed off target from a Holmes free-kick.
Derry could, and indeed should have held the upper hand at the break. A mistake by Jonathan Minnock gave Mark Farren a sight of goal, but he blasted across goal while a hesitant Gallagher allowed the striker get a shot in, after he didn't come to collect a long punt into the box. Thankfully for Gallagher, Farren prodded wide.
In between, tempers frayed and Michael Funston was lucky to escape without a card following a clash with Higgins while Derry assistant manager Alan Reynolds was banished to the stands.
The lively McGlynn fired wide before Harps were dealt a hammer blow with the enforced departure of striker Conor Gethins three minutes from the interval, the Lifford man worryingly for the Donegal club left the ground on crutches after being forced off.
Eleven minutes into the new half, Derry struck gold. James Gallagher made a fine save from Kevin Deery's low drive, turning the ball around the post. Deery played the resulting corner short to McGinn and his cross was directed to the net by the unmarked Farren.
Harps did have the ball in the net 17 minutes from the end, but Chris Breen was clearly offside as he steered home at the back post after Mukendi headed a corner into his path. That aside, the men in blue were second best and in the end it was a comfortable three points for Stephen Kenny's team.
They once again hold the bragging rights in the North West. For Harps, it's yet again a case of 'what's another year' against their old foes.
Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Petter Hutton, Clive Delaney, Steven Gray; Ruaidhri Higgins (Barry Molloy 80), Gareth McGlynn, Kevin Deery, Niall McGinn; Mark Farren (Sammy Morrow 85), Thomas Stewart (Kevin McHugh 70).
Subs not used: Darren Quigley, Mark McChrystal.
Booked: Gray (90).
Finn Harps: James Gallagher; Marc Mukendi, Jonathan Minnock, Stuart Malcolm, Shaun Holmes; Chris Breen, Neil McCafferty, Davy Byrne (Shaun McGowan 75), Marc Brolly, Michael Funston (Austin Friel 63); Conor Gethins (Stephen Parkhouse 42).
Subs not used: David Tyrell, Gavin Cullen.
Booked: Brolly (15), McCafferty (40), Minnock (90).
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
Attendance: 3,470
