Cian Kavanagh stars as Derry City run riot against Finn Harps

Derry City 6

Finn Harps 0

Cian Kavanagh scored a hat trick as Derry City started their pre-season in emphatic fashion with a demolition of Finn Harps at the Brandywell.

The Candystripes head to Alicante this week for a six-day training camp during which time they will play Danish side Aalborg, and they do so on the back of an encouraging performance in their first home game of 2023.

Ruaidhri Higgins used the opportunity to give 20 different players a run out, while Harps’ manager Dave Rogers played several trialists in Harps’ second friendly game in three days.

Harps drew 0-0 with Dundalk at Oriel Park, but there was to be no repeat at the Brandywell as the Candystripes proved to be ruthless.

Welcome outing

The snow and ice thawed just in time for the game to take place, and Derry City fans were not reticent in taking in their first live football game in three months, with a very decent crowd showing up at the Brandywell.

Ruaidhri Higgins started with a strong eleven ahead of the trip to Spain this week, and there were also opportunities for both Evan McLaughlin, making his return in a red and white shirt after a loan spell at Coleraine, while youngster Liam Mullan also got his chance.

The Harps team featured a host of ‘Trialist’ players as manager Dave Rogers kept his cards close to his chest although City loanees Caoimhin Porter and Daithi McCallion both started against their parent club, while former Candystripe Michael Harris started in attack.

Early goal

City dictated the play from the start and they should have been a goal to the good when the ball dropped out of the sky perfectly for Cian Kavanagh, but he got his finish all wrong and completely missed a simple chance.

The striker made sure to make up for that within a few minutes as he scored the opening goal of pre-season, latching onto the end of McLaughlin’s defence-splitting pass and firing the ball past the Harps goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

One almost became a spectacular two when Patrick McEleney launched a ferocious effort onto the frame of the Harps goal, an effort which had the crowd applauding the City captain.

The upright then came to Brian Maher’s rescue at the other end as the City goalkeeper was almost embarrassed. He came out of his goal but lost the ball, and stayed out of his goal trying unsuccessfully to retrieve it. He was then caught out of his goal as Trialist 22 took aim from halfway, but the ball came back off the bar, with Ciaran Coll hurting himself in the process trying to cover his goalkeeper.

It was 2-0 before half time and it came as a result of a perfect pass from Patrick McEleney, who picked out the run of Ryan Graydon in behind the Harps defence. Graydon took a touch to control the ball before squaring it to the unmarked Kavanagh to head in a simple finish from close range.

Half Time 2-0

Derry made eight changes at half time, with Ben Doherty the most notable name as he made his first appearance for his home time team since 2018.

It didn’t take long for the Candystripes to extend their lead, scoring a third after just seven minutes of the second half. Youngster Conor Barr swung a cross to the back post where Kavanagh had peeled away into space and his header towards goal deflected into the net from close range.

The chances just kept coming Derry City’s way, and Brandon Kavanagh put one on a plate for Kavanagh who headed into the side netting in what proved to be the last touch of a productive day for the striker, who was replaced by Jamie McGonigle.

McGonigle could well have scored with his first touch as Harps lost the ball on the edge of their own area, and Michael Duffy took advantage, playing in his team-mate who shot across goal and wide of the target.

It was really just a matter of how many Derry City would score and the fourth goal came on 65 minutes when Will Patching set up Michael Duffy to place the ball past the Harps goalkeeper, much to the satisfaction of the crowd, who were being treated to a feast of goals in the first game of 2023.

There was still time for the goal of the game and it came from the right foot of Sadou Diallo who absolutely powered a shot into the top corner from 30 yards, a magnificent strike that had the fans on their feet.

Jamie McGonigle could well have added to that total in the final minute but his effort flew just across goal and wide, with the final whistle going just seconds later.

Teams

DERRY CITY FIRST HALF: Brian Maher, Shane McEleney, Ciaran Coll, Ronan Boyce, Evan McLaughlin, Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McEleney, Ryan Graydon, Jordan McEneff, Liam Mullan, Cian Kavanagh.

DERRY CITY SECOND HALF: Tadhg Ryan, Conor Barr, Cameron McJannet, Ciaran Coll, Sadou Diallo, Evan McLaughlin, Will Patching, Brandon Kavanagh, Michael Duffy, Ben Doherty, Cian Kavanagh.

REFEREE: Arnold Hunter.