Derry City disappoint in Dundalk as poor run of form continues

Dundalk 0

Derry City 0

Derry City's poor run of form continued as they escaped Oriel Park with a point against a spirited Dundalk. 

It is now three games without a win for Ruaidhri Higgins’ team, who were second best for most of the game, particularly in the second half, with goalkeeper Brian Maher making some huge saves to earn them a point.

League leaders Shelbourne dropped points at home to Sligo Rovers and for the umpteenth time this season, the Candystripes could not take advantage.

There could have been a Derry City goal less than 90 seconds into the game, but Ross Munro came to Dundalk’s rescue.

Paul McMullan collected the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and played Adam O’Reilly through at the second attempt, but he was denied by a strong hand from the goalkeeper. From the corner which followed, Sado Diallo send an audacious overhead kick just wide as Derry City started with intent.

Dundalk were just as lively and James Gullan went for the spectacular when he intercepted a misplaced pass from Ciaran Coll, attempting to catch Brian Maher off his line with a first-time effort from 40 yards, but his effort lacked the power to beat the Derry City goalkeeper.

The visitors almost took the lead in unusual circumstances 22 minutes in when Munro absentmindedly walked out of his area with the ball, gifting Derry City a free kick 18 yards from goal. Pat Hoban touched the ball back to Will Patching, who flicked the ball up for himself, before attempting to place a volley in the bottom corner, but the Dundalk goalkeeper made amends by pushing it wide for a corner.

Despite their league position, Dundalk’s record at Oriel Park in recent times has been formidable, and it was easy to see why as they were in no way awed by their opponents. They should even have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when Gullan played Cameron Elliot in behind before meeting his team mate’s cross, but he volleyed into the ground and over, which was a massive let off for Derry.

Dundalk were looking the more likely team to find the net as the game approached the hour mark and Gullan had another opportunity to do so when O’Reilly lost the ball and Horgan found him in space, but the striker blazed badly over the bar with Maher in his sights.

With the game entering the last 15 minutes, Brian Maher produced an absolute wonder save to deny Gullan a spectacular goal, the striker aiming for the top corner from 20 yards only to be denied by the City goalkeeper who somehow got a hand to it.

Dundalk substitute Ryan O’Kane came closest in the last few minutes, as his 25-yard effort arrowed past Maher and into the netting behind the goal, with some Dundalk fans thinking it was in.

Teams

Dundalk: Munro, Davies, Boyle, Gullan, Horgan, Johnson, Elliot(Kenny 78’) , Muller, Doyle, Durrant (O’Kane 58’), Bradshaw.  

Derry City: Maher, Coll (Doherty 78’), Connolly, S McEleney, Dummigan (Boyce 78’), Diallo (Kelly 78’), O’Reilly, Patching, Duffy (Mullen 85’), McMullan (P McEleney 78’), Hoban.  

Referee: Daniel Murphy.