Derry City dominate Dundalk to get back to winning ways at the Brandywell

Derry City 4

Dundalk 1

Derry City dominated Dundalk as they climbed back to second in the Premier Division. 

Goals from Adam O'Reilly, Will Patching, Danny Mullen and Michael Duffy earned a first win in four against an opponent with serious problems at the foot of the table.

With both Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers dropping points elsewhere, it turned into a good night overall for Higgins and his players.

There was an air of expectation at the Brandywell ahead of kick-off, but also anxiety after recent poor results, even though City were expected to see off an opponent who had managed just two goals in seven games.  

Derry City fans had to wait a half hour before they had anything to get excited about, and it arrived in the game’s first goal. Will Patching sent Paul McMullan racing down the right and his low cross found Danny Mullen at the near post with his back to goal. The striker laid the ball into the path of Adam O’Reilly and the midfielder’s shot took a big deflection to take it past Ross Munro in the Dundalk goal to make it 1-0. It was only O’Reilly’s second goal for the club.

Dundalk rarely threatened but Mayowa Animasahun did have a shot blocked inside the area by a combination of Ronan Boyce and Mark Connolly before Ostenbrink shot over from the edge of the area.

Derry City wasted no time in doubling their lead after the break, taking just 33 seconds to find the net thanks to a spectacular effort from Will Patching. The midfielder collected the ball from McMullan 20 yards from goal and arrowed a shot directly into the top corner to give Munro no chance.

It was all Derry City after that, with Dundalk struggling to hang on, Munro turning away a shot from McMullan before Duffy sent a superb dipping volley just over the crossbar.

It was incessant pressure from Derry City, who were playing with a shot of confidence for the first time, in contrast to their opponents, whose heads were down all over the pitch. The third goal inevitably followed on 58 minutes when Duffy slipped the ball through to Mullen, who smashed a left-footed shot high into the net for his third goal of the season. The goal was the 200th scored by Derry City under Ruaidhri Higgins.

It was just one-way traffic as Derry City dominated and Michael Duffy got in on the act against his old team, his effort deflecting off Daryl Horgan as the ball looped up over Munro for his first goal of the season.

Dundalk did pull one back 15 minutes from time when Ryan O’Kane broke through to drill the ball low past Brian Maher, but it was nothing more than a consolation.

Derry City are away to Drogheda United next weekend, ahead of a double header against Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic at the Brandywell.

Teams

Derry City: Maher, Boyce, Connolly, McJannet, Coll, O'Reilly, (McEneff 71’) , McMullan, Kelly (Dummigan 57’), Mullen (Patton 84’), Duffy (Doherty 71’).

Dundalk: Munro, Mountney (Muller 67’), Johnson, Animasahun, High (Keane 67’), Ostenbrink (Doyle 58’), Bradshaw; Horgan, O'Kane, Benson (Gullan 51’), Mahon (Durrant 57’).

Referee: David Dunne (Dublin).