Derry City lose top spot as they are left frustrated by Dundalk

Derry City 0

Dundalk 0

Bohemians returned to the top of the Premier Division as Derry City were left frustrated against a resilient Dundalk at the Brandywell.

Ruaidhri Higgins’ team were completely on top in a one-sided second half, but despite a number of opportunities, they could find no way past a Dundalk side who seemed happy for a point throughout. It is the first goalless draw between the sides at the Brandywell since 2011, but City will feel they did enough to earn all three points. 

Disaster struck Derry City just 13 minutes into the game as Mark Connolly pulled up badly holding his hamstring as he attempted to chase down Daniel Kelly. It meant an early end to the night for the City centre-half who was replaced by Ronan Boyce.

Derry responded well to the set-back and threatened Dundalk for the first time when Patrick McEleney picked out Ryan Graydon on the right and his bobbling effort across goal was set to be out away by Jamie McGonigle only for Hayden Muller to put it behind for a corner.

Dundalk responded with a chance of their own, and Johannes Yii-Kokko swept a c=good effort just over the bar from 20 yards after picking up Ciaran Coll’s loose header.

It was then Dundalk’s turn to lose a player to injury, as Daniel Kelly, in only his second game back from a long-term injury problem, limped off to be replaced by Alfie Lewis.

Jamie McGonigle was looking lively for the hosts as the striker had the first real chance for either tea, when he linked up well with Will Patching to get behind the Dundalk defence. McGonigle bore down on goal and had to shoot quickly on his weaker left foot with Andy Boyle closing in, allowing Nathan Sheppard to push the ball to safety.

There were five minutes of added time at the end of a tense first half, and Graydon almost ended it on a high for Derry when he picked up Patrick McEleney’s 40-yard pass, cut inside, but his curling effort went just over the bar.

Derry began the second half positively and Graydon had a real chance when he peeled off at the back post to meet Patching’s corner. It seemed to be a free header for the winger but he headed back across goal instead of shooting and the chance came to nothing.

The home side were building momentum the longer the half went on and Patching came close to scoring directly from a corner when Sheppard missed the ball completely, but the ball flew wide of the target.

Patching was determined to catch Sheppard but in some fashion and he then tried his luck from 30 yards but his free kick landed on the roof of the net.

Patching should have scored the easiest of three chances however when substitute Ollie O’Neill brilliantly broke into the Dundalk area and paid it on a  plate for his team mate, but Patching missed the ball completely with McGonigle slow to reach to the loose ball and another opportunity was gone.

Derry continued to push in the closing stages of the game and Ben Doherty lined one up from 25 yards, but it was brilliantly pushed wide by Sheppard who got across his goal well.

It was one-way traffic in the closing stages, but Dundalk held firm much to the frustration of the home fans.  

Teams

Derry City: Maher, Coll, Connolly (Boyce 13’), S McEleney, Doherty, Diallo, Patching, P McEleney, McEneff (O’Neill 54’), Graydon, McGonigle (C Kavanagh 75’).

Dundalk: Sheppard, Davies, Muller, Boyle, Leahy, Sloggett, Yii-Kokko (O’Kane 70’), Malley (Martin 59’), Kelly (Lewis 26’), Hoban (Elliott 70’), Tulloch (Benson 70’).

Referee: Rob Hennessey