Derry City stay top of the league after dominant display against UCD

UCD 0

Derry City 4

Jordan McEneff scored twice as Derry City dominated UCD in Dublin to stay top of the Premier Division. 

It took Derry City just 15 minutes to make the breakthrough on a freezing night at the Belfield Bowl. Ryan Graydon collected the ball on the left and drive all the way into the UCD area only to see his shot saved by goalkeeper Lorcan Healy. The ball broke to the edge of the area where Jordan McEneff took control before curling the ball brilliantly beyond Healy and into the top corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

UCD’s task became even more difficult when the Candystripes doubled their lead just four minutes before half time. The ball went from one end of the pitch to the other within seconds as Mark Connolly cleared out from defence, finding Brandon Kavanagh in midfield, who in turn played a delightful through ball for McEneff to race onto. UCD goalkeeper Healy came out to the edge of his box to close down the angle for the City midfielder, but McEneff nonchalantly placed the ball around him before sliding it into the net for this second of the game.

The second half began with UCD threatening the Derry City goal for the first time. Sadou Diallo gave away a free kick close to the right wing in the middle of the Derry half and that allowed Dignam to cross the ball into a crowded area where Keane got his head on it, forcing Brian Maher into his first save of the game.

UCD were at last causing a threat. But in their eagerness to get back into the game, they almost conceded again. Will Patching found Ronan Boyce tight on the right touchline, and the full-back raced all the way into the area and his cross found McEneff whose header goalwards was blocked. The rebound fell to Cian Kavanagh, but he sent his shot over the bar with his last touch before being replaced by Jamie McGonigle.

Derry City made sure of the points just past the hour mark when substitute Ollie O’Neill was gifted a goal by goalkeeper Lorcan Healy, who failed to gather a simple ball, allowing the midfielder to roll the ball into an empty net for his first goal for his new club.

It only got worse for UCD as they conceded a fourth on 75 minutes. Will Patching stood over a free kick on the left side of the penalty area, and his effort hit off the back off defender Evan Osam before evading Healy as it crawled into the net for 4-0.

Teams 

UCD: Healy, O’Brien, Dempsey, Keaney, Dignam, Keane, Barr, Nolan, Behan, Higgins, Norris (O’Connor 81’).  

DERRY CITY: Maher, Boyle, Connolly (Coll 67’), S McEleney, Doherty, Diallo, McEneff, Patching (E McLaughlin 77’), Graydon (Ward 67’), B Kavanagh (McGonigle 63’), C Kavanagh (O O’Neill 63’).

REFEREE: David Dunne.