Mervue United 1 - 2 Derry City

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Jul 03 2010


First Division leaders Derry City got back to winnings ways on Friday night courtesy of a double from Mark Farren against a battling home side at Terryland Park. A goal in either half from the Derry striker was enough to seal all three points despite a late goal from Mervue sub David Goldbey.

Mervue manager Tom French made five changes to the side that crashed to Waterford Utd last week as Tommy Walsh, Mike Tierney, Evan Connolly, Pat Hoban and Dan Cunningham came back into the side. Stephen Kenny made three changes to his side which exited the FAI cup to Bray on Monday night as captain Kevin Deery, David McDaid and Mark Farren all returned to the league leaders line-up.

The home side started well and showed their intentions early as they were not going to sit back but instead they were having a go at the table toppers from the outset. Twenty-eight points had separated the sides going into the game as they sat at either ends of the league table but on the balance of play there wasn’t much between the two sides apart from Farren’s finishing.

The first chance of the game fell to Mike Tierney after nine minutes, but he fired his shot wide from inside the box following a flick from Pat Hoban, which had created the chance. Mervue’s Simon Walsh volleyed an effort wide from the edge of the box on 18 minutes following a period of good play and pressure from the home team. At the other end Mark Farren hit a tame effort straight at Ger Hanley two minutes later.

A minute later and the visitors were ahead against the run of play. David McDaid played a lovely ball through the heart of the home defence to pick out Farren’s run and the striker coolly slotted the ball over the advancing Hanley into the far corner for the opening score.

Derry were almost two up on 32 minutes following a corner kick. Defender Mark Scotlock headed the ball back across the goals for James McClean, but his strike was cleared off the line by the covering Kenny Farrell. Four minutes later a great run by McClean through the middle saw him blast his effort just wide of the post.

A good cross from the left on 41 minutes from Dan Cunningham picked out Evan Connolly but his header was well saved by Doherty. And Doherty had to be at his alertest two minutes into first half injury time when Hoban picked up a ball 25 yards out and struck a well hit effort goal wards but once again the keeper did well palming the strike away.

The home side were almost level on the hour mark following another Cunningham corner as Doherty tried to punch the delivery clear but failed and following a scramble, Derry’s Thomas McBride headed off the line for another corner.

Nicky Curran then tried his luck with a long range effort which flew just over Doherty’s crossbar as the home team tried to get back into the game and were making the league leaders work hard for their three points.

On 74 minutes Farren should have added his second after sub Ruairi Harkin played him through on goal but his attempted effort to lob the advancing Hanley sailed over the crossbar. Four minutes later Mervue sub Rory Gaffney set up fellow sub Mark Ludden for a low strike from the edge of the box that was only gathered by Doherty at the second attempt with Hoban lurking for the loose ball.

The home team were caught out for the second goal on 81 minutes after they had a sustained period of possession. A long ball forward by fullback Eddie McCallion found Farren and he beat the advancing Hanley and defender Nicky Curran to the ball before calmly slotting into an empty net for 2-0 and his second of the game.

Farren was denied his hat-trick with a minute to go as a brilliant block from the hard working Tierney ensured it stayed at 2-0 going into injury time. The home side deservedly did pull a goal back in injury time but it was a case of too little too late. Gaffney created space down the left before picking out David Goldbey who made no mistake heading into the corner past Doherty for what was a consolation goal.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell (David Goldbey 80 mins), Tommy Walsh, Mike Elwood; Simon Walsh, Mike Tierney, Kevin Crehan, Evan Connolly (Rory Gaffney 64 mins), Pat Hoban and Dan Cunningham (Mark Ludden 73 mins)
Subs not used: Noel Varley and Enda Curran.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Eddie McCallion, Emmet Fiars, Shane McEleney, Kevin Deery (Ruairi Harkin 24 mins), David McDaid (Mark McChrystal 46 mins), Patrick McEleney (Darren Cassidy 90mins), James McClean, Mark Scotlock, Mark Farren and Thomas McBride.
Subs not used: Eugene Ferry and Darren Coyle.
Booked – Thomas McBride (7 mins) and Mark Scotlock (28 mins)

Referee – Padraig Sutton (Clare)

Attendance – 150 aprox

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Mark Farren – The difference between the two sides with his finishing.