Derry City 0 - 0 Longford Town

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Fri, Jun 25 2010


Longford Town’s great run of form continued when they picked up an excellent point away from home against First Division leaders Derry City at the Brandywell on Friday night.

Derry created chance after chance to win this game but just couldn’t find a way past visiting keeper keeper Aaron Shanahan, who once again was outstanding.

The home side side enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half and Tony Cousin's side offered very little. Their first and only attempt on goal in that first half came in the fifth minute when Thomas Hyland’s low drive was saved by Derry 'keeper Gerard Doherty.

For all their possession and play, Derry were wasteful on occasions and should have had more shots on target. Longford, on the other hand, seemed to be lethargic and struggled to contain Derry on several occasions. A big difference in performance levels from their games before the break.

David McDaid proved a real handful for the Town during the opening half. In the 33rd minute he sent in a pinpoint cross from the right but fortunately no Derry player was on hand to direct the ball goalbound.

One minute later Patrick McEleney tried his luck but his effort was well held on the line by Shanahan. Just after that McDaid skipped past the challenge of Mike Lee but his shot was saved by the alert 'keeper. Town’s goal really did live a very charmed life in those first 45 minutes.

Derry started the second like they ended the first, creating chances. Four minutes after the restart Patrick McEleney tried his luck from about 25 yards out, but his effort just went wide. Mark Farren followed up with a shot that Shanahan was just about able to get down to.

The best chance of the game then fell to Farren in the 54th minute. After receiving a pass from Barry Molloy the striker charged down on goal. He beat defender Chris Deans for pace and, with Shanahan off his line, Farren’s shot just went inches wide of the far post.

Just after this chance, Longford defender Mike Lee broke up the field but his effort just went over. In the 60th minute Derry had calls for handball in a crowded box. Shanahan was called into action in the 66th minute, booting away Thomas McBride’s effort while in the 69th minute the Town netminder pulled off a superb save to deny Farren.

New Town signing Lee Roche had a chance to make a name for himself on his debut in the 78th minute. Mark Salmon showed some wonderful skills to hold the ball up in midfield, before laying it off to Roche but his effort was saved by the feet of Doherty.

Derry, and in particular Farren, continued to threaten and the striker’s effort from about 25 yards out just dipped over in the 82nd minute. Shanahan was once again a real saviour for the visitors in the 85th minute pulling off another fantastic save to deny Mark Scotlock a late winner.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Eddie McCallion, Emmet Friars, Barry Molloy, Shane McEleney, David McDaid, Patrick McEleney (Adam Clarke, 60), James McClean, Mark Scotlock, Mark Farren, Thomas McBride (Vincent Sweeney, 81).
Subs Not used: James Henry, Darren Cassidy, Eugene Ferry.

Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan, Niall O’Reilly, Chris Deans, John Lester, Mike Lee, Cathal Brady, Mark Salmon, Thomas Hyland, Craig Mooney (Victor Ekanem, 78), Ryan McEvoy (Lee Roche, 62), Dave Freeman.
Subs Not used: Derek Glynn, Justin Perrin.

Referee: Brendan Kelly (Offaly).
Extratime Man of the Match: Aaron Shanahan (Longford Town).