- Macdara Ferris
- Wed, Sep 06 2023
Macdara Ferris reports from UCD Bowl
Derry City moved to within four points of league leaders Shamrock Rovers with a crushing 5-0 win over UCD in Belfield – their eighth in a row against the Students.
UCD had accommodated Derry City by postponing this game during Derry City’s European campaign and they accommodated City in their title chase by conceding three goals by half time on a balmy night at the UCD Bowl.
With the temperature still at 20 degrees at kick-off, City caught UCD cold inside two minutes. Paul McMullan, excellent all night, got the assist with his centre headed home by Daniel Mullen running across the front of the six yard box.
Andy Myler’s men did have some moments in the first half when they caused the Candystripes trouble. Daniel Norris went closest for the home team after he took a long ball from the back from Jack Keaney down with a fine touch. He cut inside and his left foot shot just flashed wide of Brian Maher’s goal.
Sean Brennan was lively in the middle for the Students and did well to hold onto the ball under pressure from City. Danu Kinsella-Bishop was isolated up front but the UCD top goalscorer with five goals did force Maher into a good save when UCD broke but the ball was mostly held by City throughout the first half and virtually all of the second.
They were patient working the ball from right to left and back again with Sadou Diallo looking to hit long diagonals into space when the opportunity arose to exploit when UCD came narrow.
Will Patching should have punished a weak clearance by Lorcan Healy mid-way through the half but he rushed a volley in close when he had time to take a touch and slot it home.
However he got his first goal five minutes from the break, finishing McMullan’s centre with a delightful right foot touch that took the ball over Healy after a Diallo diag to McMullan out wide right.
Three minutes later Diallo fed Ben Doherty wide left and his cross was steered home by Brandon Kavanagh to put his team 3-0 up at the break.
Seven minutes into the second period Patching scored his fourth goal in two games. He was involved in the move early. Brandon Kavanagh took it up and his touch - off a McMullan centre - allowed Patching the drill the ball by Healy.
Myler made a triple substitution after the concession of the fourth goal but they soon found themselves a further one down with Brandon Kavanagh getting his second on the night.
Patching exploited an error at the back to pass to Brandon Kavanagh whose left foot effort found the back of the net off the post for 5-0.
Patching didn’t get the chance to net his hat-trick as he was withdrawn just before the hour mark as City made a triple substitution of their own.
City are now 20 competitive games unbeaten away to UCD going back to 2005 – with 17 of those matches ending in wins for the Candystripes.
The loss leaves UCD 17 points off ninth spot with only 21 points remaining on offer for the Students – their time in the Premier Division is rapidly coming to an end.
The win for the Candystripes means if they are victorious in their next match, at home to Shamrock Rovers on Friday week, they will move to just one point behind the Hoops with six games remaining.
UCD: Lorcan Healy; Adam Wells Jack Keaney, Brendan Barr (Harvey O'Brien 77), Evan Osam; Dara Keane, Adam Verdon (Harry Curtis 77); Ciaran Behan (Jake Doyle 53), Seán Brennan, Daniel Norris (Donal Higgins 53); Danú Kinsella-Bishop (Michael Raggett 53).
Subs not used: Kian Moore, Ryan Bowden, Éanna Clancy.
Booked: Harvey O'Brien (90)
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ciarán Coll, Shane McEleney, Cameron McJannet (Sam Todd 59), Ben Doherty; Sadou Diallo (Callum McCay 70), Adam O'Reilly (Patrick McEleney 57); Paul McMullan, William Patching (Jordan McEneff 59), Brandon Kavanagh; Daniel Mullan (Cian Kavanagh 59).
Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan, Tiernan McGinty, Michael Duffy, Jamie McGonigle.
Referee: David Dunne.
Attendance: 300 (estimate)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Will Patching (Derry City)
