Ronan Boyce stunner sends Derry City into Europe for the third successive season

Cork City 0

Derry City 1

Ronan Boyce's second goal of the season was enough to secure European football for Derry City for the third successive season.

The defender sent an incredible effort past goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks on 75 minutes to light up an otherwise unforgettable game against Cork City at Turner's Cross. 

The Turners Cross pitch was in dire condition and that ensured a forgettable first half, but Will Patching very nearly provided a spark just before the half hour. Ben Doherty was fouled just outside the penalty area and Patching’s free kick brought a good save from young goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks.

Cork ended a poor first half the stronger, and they had the ball in the net when Ruairi Keating bundled home from close range following Aaron Bolger’s cross, but the goal was ruled out due to a foul on Cameron McJannet in the build-up.

Derry City came within inches of taking the lead in the opening minute of the second half as his brilliant volley beat Brooks came off the base of the post before O’Reilly’s follow-up was stopped by the Cork goalkeeper.

O’Reilly came even closer just moments later as he brought a very good save from Brooks, as the Candystripes showed more life in the opening five minutes of the second half than they did in the entirety of the first period.

The goal the game so desperately needed came with a quarter of an hour to play and it came in spectacular fashion from an unlikely source when Ronan Boyce absolutely hammered the ball into the top corner from 25 yards.

Substitute Danny Mullan should have made it 2-0 in the final few minutes when a ball over the top put him through on goal, but he shot poorly wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Cork could have nicked an equaliser on 96 minutes but Maher was alert to tip over a header from Hakkinen.

Teams

CORK CITY: Brooks, Coleman, Bolger, Coffey (Dijksteel 61’), Bargary (Kabia 69’), Worman (Murphy 69’), Honohan, Kravchuk, Custovic (Walker 69’), Hakkinen, Keating.

DERRY CITY: Maher, Boyce, Connolly (Todd 75’), McJannet, Doherty, Dummigan, O’Reilly (Mullan 70’), Patching, Duffy (Coll 90’), B Kavanagh (McEneff 70’), McMullan (P McEleney 70’).

REFEREE: Bary Coffey.