Sligo Rovers defend their goal during their 0-0 draw with Derry City at the Brandywell on Monday, 28 February 2022. Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)
League Report: Derry City 0-0 Sligo Rovers
- Dónal Ryan
- Mon, Feb 28 2022
Derry City and Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw in the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Monday night.
In what turned out to be a rather tame affair, with few chances coming particularly in the second half, it is Sligo that will be the happier with the point as they nullified Derry for large parts of the game.
The Candystripes came flying out of the traps, as they laid siege on the Rovers goal in the opening minutes. An intricate move down the right wing in the eighth minute between Jamie McGonigle and Patrick McEleney saw the ball work its way to Brandon Kavanagh. His shot looked destined for the top corner, but a fine save from Ed McGinty kept the score at 0-0.
Just a minute later, Derry came knocking at the door again. Will Patching released McGonigle with a fine ball over the top, and although he took it down well in the box, his shot crashed back off the crossbar and into the arms of a relieved McGinty.
Derry dominated possession and had a shout for a penalty in the 28th minute. Kavanagh stole into the box again but went down as McGinty got a hand to the ball. Referee Damien McGraith was having none of it and allowed play to continue.
McEleney was causing all kinds of trouble for the Rovers defence, and a fantastic cross found Eoin Toal, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy just seconds later.
Sligo started to wake up towards the end of the half, and their best chance came in in first half stoppage time. A low ball was driven across the Derry box and captain David Cawley got a foot to it, but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar, and the sides went in scoreless at the break.
Sligo started the second half brightly, as Will Fitzgerald found himself in space on the left wing. His low cross found Aidan Keena, who couldn’t repeat his goalscoring tricks this time around, as he fired his shot just over the bar.
Karl O’Sullivan was looking lively, and his corner in the 57th minute fell to the feet of Cawley again, but he could only shoot straight at Brian Maher in the Derry goal.
That was as good as it got for the Bit O’Red, as Derry began to pile on the pressure. McGinty had to be alert to push Kavanagh’s cross-cum-shot from distance over his crossbar.
Derry had two excellent chances to steal all three points right at the death. Toal made his way forward from defence and fired narrowly wide from outside the box in the 91st minute.
It was Toal again who could have grabbed the winner, as he was found in space in the box after some neat Derry build-up play, but he scuffed his shot straight at McGinty, as both sides couldn’t be separated come the final whistle.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Eoin Toal (c), Cameron McJannet, Cameron Dummigan, Ciaran Coll (Daniel Lafferty 76); Joe Thomson (Ronan Boyce 58), Will Patching, Patrick McEleney (Matty Smith 62), Brandon Kavanagh; Jamie McGonigle, James Akintunde.
Subs not used: Nathan Gartside, Shane McEleney, Jack Malone, Caoimhin Porter, Liam Mullan, Gerard Storey.
Booked: James Akintunde (82).
Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Lewis Banks, Robbie McCourt (Patrick Kirk 65), Nando Pijnaker; David Cawley, Garry Buckley, Greg Bolger (Niall Morahan 74), Adam McDonnell (Seamas Keogh 85), Karl O'Sullivan; Aidan Keena, William Fitzgerald (Max Mata 85).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Colm Horgan, Shane Blaney, Kailin Barlow, Jordan Hamilton.
Booked: Greg Bolger (67).
Referee: Damien MacGraith.
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