Ruaidhri Higgins absent as Derry City retain the Billy Kee Memorial Cup

Institute 0

Derry City 4

Derry City retained the Billy Kee Memorial Cup with a comfortable win over Institute at the Brandywell.

A crowd of close to 1,000 observed an impeccable minutes’ silence before the game in memory of Kevin Higgins, brother of City boss Ruaidhri, who tragically passed away at the weekend.

The City boss was understandably absent, so Alan Reynolds and Conor Loughrey took charge on a cold night at the Brandywell in which the Candystripes eased to a win.  

The opening goal came after just 17 minutes as an incisive move from Derry City opened up the ‘Stute defence. Shane McEleney picked out the run of Michael Duffy in behind the ‘Stute defence, and he had the simple task of squaring the ball into the six-yard box where Brandon Kavanagh arrived to side-foot the Candystripes into the lead.

It could well have been much more for Derry City by half time with the woodwork denying them no fewer than three times in the space of five minutes. Sadou Diallo was the first to rattle the frame of the goal with a brilliant effort from 25 yards. That was followed by a frenetic few seconds in the ‘Stute penalty area as Duffy’s free kick hit the bar before the ball fell for ‘Triallist B’ whose header was superbly batted off the line onto the inside of the post by Doherty who hurt himself in the process.

Half Time 2-0

Derry City make several changes at the start of the second half - Brian Maher, Darragh McCloskey, Evan McLaughlin, Will Patching, Jordan McEneff, Ryan Graydon, Will Patching and Jamie McGonigle all on.

‘Stute also made several changes – with Gareth Muldoon, Ronan McAleer, Dylan King, Shaun Doherty, Orrin McLaughlin, Jack McFeely, Oisin Devlin and Sean McCarron all on.

McCarron forced Maher into work quickly as ‘Stute came close for the first time in the game, with a cross cum shot forcing the City goalkeeper to block with his foot.

Unfortunately. It was a very short night for City midfielder Evan McLaughlin, who picked up an injury just five minutes into the second half and left the field clearly upset. He was replaced by Callum McKay.

The changes meant that the game suffered for a period as a result, with both teams finding their feet, although their was more of a threat from ‘Stute, with McFeely forcing a good save from Maher from a tight angle.

Yet it was Derry City who found the net after their first real period of pressure in the second half, with Brandon Kavanagh playing Ryan Graydon through on goal, and he made no mistake to make it 3-0.

There was still plenty of time for Derry City to find another, and they did so with 9 minutes remaining with Brandon Kavanagh providing a third assist of the game, this time for Jamie McGonigle, who fired a low shot in off the post past Gareth Muldoon to round off a good night for those in red and white.

Teams

INSTITUTE: Dylan Doherty, Rhys McDermott, Shaun Leppard, Shaun McDermott, Jamie McCormick, Alonso Clarke, Paddy McLaughlin, Jamie Dunne, Cormac Burke, Calvin McCallion.  

DERRY CITY: Tadgh Ryan, Ciaran Coll, Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Ben Doherty, Trialist A, Sadou Diallo, Adan O’Reilly, Michael Duffy, Brandon Kavanagh, Cian Kavanagh.

REFEREE: Diarmuid Harrigan.