1500 and counting... Vote for Derry City’s Greatest ever League of Ireland Goal

Jack Doyle’s recent winning goal against Waterford at the Brandywell was Derry City’s 1500th league goal since joining the League of Ireland back in 1985.

To celebrate the occasion, the Derry News has picked out 20 of the most memorable goals scored by the Candy Stripes over the years.

Each fan will have their favourites, so it is impossible to name every goal that deserves to be on the list, but be it a scorcher, or a tap in which changed Derry’s history, each of the following goals had some special significance.

Vote for your favourite.

1.) OWEN DA GAMA vs. Cobh Ramblers

December 8, 1985

One of the stars of the eighties for Derry was Owen Da Gama, who, on this occasion, beat three defenders before sending a blistering sit into the top corner to leave the 9000 in attendance lauding a new Brandywell hero.

2.) ALAN SUNDERLAND vs. Shelbourne

January 25, 1987

Former Arsenal striker Alan Sunderland made his City debut in spectacular fashion, taking a cross from John Quigg in the final minute before turning in a packed penalty area and driving the ball ferociously into the net to score a winning goal on his debut.

3.) PASCAL VAUDEQUIN vs. Sligo Rovers

April 24, 1988

On the day that Jonathan Speak broke all sorts of goal scoring records with six goals, Pascal Vaudequin stole his team mate’s thunder with an amazing strike. Vaudequin collected the ball on the corner of the penalty area and drove an unstoppable shot through a crowded penalty area and into the top corner.

4.) PAUL Doolin vs. Cobh Ramblers

April 24, 1989

Derry City were crowned League of Ireland champions for the first time on April 2 by beating Cobh Ramblers at the Brandywell. Paul Doolin, got the party started with two goals in two minutes, the second of which saw him run onto a through ball from Liam Coyle before holding off a defender to fire home from an acute angle.

5.) PAUL MOONEY vs. Shelbourne

December 28, 1991

In front of 7,500 fans, City snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a late winnder from defender Paul Mooney, who jogged forward and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot from 35 yards which flew all the way into the top corner to win the game for Derry.

6.) LIAM COYLE vs. Athlone

April 24, 1995

Coyle’s spectacular equaliser is the only good memory of a dark day for the club. The striker was a long way from goal when he received the ball from a throw in, but he turned away from Barry Murphy brilliantly before sending an unbelievable effort over the head of Shane Curran and into the net from 30 yards.

7.) TOMMY McCALLION vs. Sligo Rovers

February 18, 1996

Young Tommy McCallion made his Brandywell debut against title-chasing Sligo Rovers and he stunned the home fans with an incredible hat trick of goals, the third of which was a contender for ‘Goal of the Season’ as he lobbed the goalkeeper from the edge of the penalty area.

8.) PETER HUTTON vs. St. Patrick’ Athletic

April 19, 1997

Derry needed another to seal the deal and it came just three minutes into the second half when Liam Coyle sent Peter Hutton racing through on goal, and the captain made no mistake, firing in his 17th goal in all competitions.

9.) LIAM COYLE vs. Bray Wanderers

December 4, 1998

It took Derry six hours to get to the Carlisle Grounds because of traffic congestion but the Bray defence were left wishing the bus had never made it, as Liam Coyle’s dazzling goal, which he scored after leaving two defenders for dead, meant the points belonged to the visitors.

10.) GARY BECKETT vs. St. Patrick’s Athletic

August 13, 1999

This proved to be a memorable day in particular for Gary Beckett, who scored two goals to secure a massive win for his team. Beckett equalised with an exquisite lob before netting the winner in the 93rd minute with virtually the last kick of the game.

11.) LIAM COYLE vs. Shelbourne

April 24, 2001

Shelbourne came to the Brandywell needing just two more wins to retain their title but the champions were left reeling as Derry City raced out of the blocks and were 3-0 up after just 20 minutes, the third of which came from Liam Coyle who scored with a sensational volley from 25 yards and Shelbourne were on the canvas.

12.) LIAM COYLE vs. Galway United

March 15, 2002

Kevin Mahon’s team had come from behind twice to level thanks to two exceptional strikes from Tommy McCallion, but it was left to Coyle to win it, the striker coming off the bench to beat three Galway defenders before he placed the ball beyond goalkeeper Mark Colby for a 3-2 win.

13.) LIAM COYLE vs. Finn Harps

December 13, 2003

The relegation play-off decider with Finn Harps at the Brandywell was a night of legend, which has never been forgotten. Liam Coyle dragged his home-town team back up from the floor, to grab the scrappiest, but most important goal of his 112 for Derry City, to keep the Candy Stripes in the Premier Division.

14.) BARRY MOLLOY vs. Cork City

August 19, 2005

Barry Molloy goals were few and far between for Derry City, but few could forget his effort against Cork City. Molloy sealed the win with his first goal for the club, looping a sensational effort over the backtracking Devine and into the net.

15.) KEVIN DEERY vs. Shelbourne

September 22, 2006

Derry City travelled to Shelbourne for a top of the table clash which lived up to its billing. Derry took charge and raced into the lead when Paddy McCourt scored with a header, but the best was yet to come when Kevin Deery intercepted a Stuart Byrne pass and, spotting Williams off his line, sent a brilliant chipped shot over the Shelbourne goalkeeper from 35 yards.

16.) MARK FARREN vs. Monaghan United

October 30, 2010

Derry City headed to Monaghan on the last day of the season a point clear of their rivals, knowing anything but defeat would get them promotion back to the Premier Division. The bigger story however was that Mark Farren was to retire from the game to battle a brain tumour. In a fairytale ending to the game, Farren scored the only goal of the game with just ten minutes remaining.

17.) PATRICK McELENEY vs. Bohemians

April 5, 2018

With Derry City more organised defensively and more clinical in attack under Declan Devine, the month of April was nothing short of exceptional for the Candy Stripes, with four wins and one draw from five games. The highlight was an absolute wonder goal from distance from Patrick McEleney at Dalymount Park, which set Derry on their way to another 4-0 win.

18.) BARRY MOLLOY vs. UCD

July 27, 2014

July ended on a high note for Derry City as they thrashed UCD 6-1 in Dublin. It was a game memorable for Michael Duffy’s first senior hat trick as well as a rare Barry Molloy goal. Molloy received the ball on the edge of the area and found the top corner with a bullet drive before running into the City fans to celebrate.

19.) RYAN McBride vs. Dundalk

March 13, 2017

When Ryan McBride wheeled away in celebration after heading Derry City into a 3-1 lead over champions Dundalk at Maginn Park, few realised the significance of the occasion. Just days later, Ryan passed away. This celebration against Dundalk, arms outstretched with a smile on his face, became an iconic moment.

20.) BARRY McNAMEE vs. Shamrock Rovers

August 4, 2017

In the battle for third place, Derry City travelled to Shamrock Rovers, hoping to continue a superb record against the Hoops under Kenny Shiels. With Rovers throwing everyone forward in added time at the end of the game, Derry broke, and with the goalie Tomer Chencinski scrambling back, Barry McNamee lobbed him from just inside the Rovers half to seal the win.