Michael Duffy's penalty not enough for Derry City against Galway United

Derry City 1

Galway United 1

Michael Duffy’s second half penalty was not enough to inspire Derry City as they were held to a draw by a stubborn Galway United at the Brandywell. 

It leaves Tiernan Lynch with just one win in five games as City boss so far, with the Candystripes now sitting at the bottom of the Premier Division as a result. 

There were encouraging signs for the home side and they came close on four minutes after a move which swept the length of the pitch. Hayden Cann, on his Brandywell debut, picked out Ben Doherty on the left and he raced forward before finding Dom Thomas, whose cross was recycled by Liam Boyce, back into the path of Thomas, who shot just wide on his weaker right foot.

Galway were fortunate to survive on 18 minutes when Garry Buckley gave the ball away in his own half and Michael Duffy was sent into space on the left, driving into the area before shooting right across the face of goal where Liam Boyce was just inches away from turning the ball into the net.

Derry City were knocking at the Galway door and after a towering defensive clearance from Mark Connolly, Boyce sent Duffy racing at goal again, and his driven effort across goal was headed for a tap in from Thomas, until Bobby Burns got his foot in at the last second to deny what looked like a certain goal.

Watts then pulled off a brilliant save to deny Thomas, who ran onto Ronan Boyce’s perfect 50-yard pass, the goalkeeper parrying the volley before the rebound was cleared to safety.

After dominating the entirety of the first half, Derry City then fell behind right on the stroke of half time. A long throw into the area by Edward McCarthy was flicked on by Pat Hickey and Moses Dyer was there to flick the ball into the net from close range to stun the Brandywell.

There was real intent from the home side after the break and Adam O’Reilly showed that with a fierce effort from 20 yards which flew just past the post.

The pressure kept building and Derry City got their rewards less than 10 minutes into the second half. Sadou Diallo’s superbly struck shot was deflected over the bar by Hickey for what looked like a corner kick, but referee Neil Doyle pointed to the penalty spot, insisting that the Galway man had used his hand. Hickey was dismayed, but the Brandywell fans were delighted as Duffy hammered the ball straight down the middle for his third goal of the season.

The home side almost completed their comeback 15 minutes from time when Ronan Boyce found himself 20 yards from goal and somehow turned past three Galway defenders to find himself through on goal, but with just Watts to beat, he shot horribly wide.

With time running out, another chance came and went for the hosts when Ben Doherty’s deep cross saw Watts beaten in the air by Cann, whose looping header dropped agonisingly onto the roof of the empty net.

After absorbing most of the pressure throughout the game, Galway almost won it in added time when a mistake at the back let Jimmy Keohane in, but Brian Maher saved his team with a crucial stop.

Teams

Derry City: Maher, R Boyce, Connolly, Cann, Holt; Diallo, Doherty, O'Reilly; Thomas (Benson 75’), L Boyce (Hoban 81’), Duffy.

Galway United: Watts, Byrne, Slevin, Brouder, Buckley (Donelon 60’), Hickey, Borden (Hurley 60’), Burns (Kerrigan 89’), McCarthy (Kohane HT 45’), Esua, Dyer (Walsh 79’).

Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).