UCD 0-2 Derry City

By Rory Houston

Derry City earned their first win of the Airtricty Premier Divison season as Gareth McGlynn and Daniel Lafferty struck to see off UCD at the UCD Bowl on Friday night.

McGlynn opening the scoring in the eighth minute after good work by Patrick McEleney.

The Candystripes dominated the majority of the game but they struggled to find the clinching goal as Stewart Greacen and Lafferty hit the post in the second period.

Stephen Kenny’s side made sure of the win in the final minute as the lively Lafferty sent a rasping shot under the goalkeeper from just inside the area.

UCD made one change from their win over Drogheda United last week. Paul O’Connor came in for Gerard O’Calllaghan for the Students. Derry brought in Ruari Harkin for Ruaidhri Higgins after the 1-0 loss to Sligo Rovers on the opening night.

The game began at a fast pace, although neither side were creating any clear cut chances.

In the first piece of quality in the match, the Candystripes took the lead.

Patrick McEleney turned sharply when he received the ball on the edge of the UCD area. He picked out McGlynn in acres of space 10 yards from goal and the former Bohemians man curled the ball into the corner of the net past Ger Barron.

Derry enjoyed most of the possession after the goal but the Students were marking the Derry frontmen tightly and Stephen Kenny’s side struggled to craft chances.

Stephen McLaughlin went close to putting Zayed through on goal in the 23rd minute but UCD keeper Barron did well to collect the ball on the edge of the area.

College offered little in attack with Cillian Morrison struggling to get into the game on his own up front.

The Students went very close to drawing level in the 32nd minute as Derry failed to get the ball clear after a rare sustained period of possession for the home side.

Sean Harding's fine cross left Graham Rusk a free header just beside the penalty spot but the effort went wide of the post.

That proved to be their only clear chance of the half.

Derry continued to look for striker Zayed as he attempted to get behind the UCD backline on several occasions.

However, the UCD defence managed to keep the Libyan international from getting a clear shot in on goal in the opening 45 minutes.

Zayed did get an opportunity early on in the second period and came close to doubling Derry’s lead

Patrick McEleney laid the ball off to the former Drogheda striker and his well-struck volley was pushed over the bar by Barron.

Derry were dominating the game and it looked only a matter of time before they pushed further ahead as McLaughlin's shot was deflected over for a corner.

Paul Corry was then brought down by Shane McEleney on the edge of the Derry area in the 56th minute.

College wasted the free as Harding's shot was hit straight at the wall.

Derry defender Greacen was the next to threaten as his shot from a loose ball from a corner was held by Barron.

Derry almost shot themselves in the foot on 65 minutes as Ger Doherty spilled a Dean Marshall cross and Greacen was forced to send the ball out for a corner.

The Candystripes should have wrapped up the three points on 71 minutes when McGlynn was teed up by Zayed but he scuffed the shot wide.

McGlynn then whipped in a fine free-kick with McLaughlin’s looping header going just over the bar.

Greacen hit the post from a corner with a towering header a minute later, with UCD somehow still in the game despite Derry's superiority throughout.

Controversy reigned in the 77th minute as McEleney found the time and space to get behind the UCD backline. The striker went down under pressure from Ciaran Nangle but referee Graham Kelly waved play on.

Zayed was left a frustrated figure once again as Lafferty and the striker broke clear. Lafferty only had to pick out his team-mate but his pass was intercepted a UCD defender with goal gaping.

McEleney was the next to miss a glorious chance as an error by College left the young striker with just the goalkeeper to beat.

His effort came off the post and it looked as if one goal would be enough for Derry.

However, Lafferty sealed the win in the final minute as he composed himself inside the area, checking back and firing the ball low into the net.

Substitute David McDaid came close to grabbing a third as Barron saved well from the young striker’s low shot.

UCD: Ger Barron, Sean Harding, Yael Haro, Michael Leahy, Ciaran Nangle, Paul O‘Conor, Paul Corry, Robbie Creevy, Dean Marshall (Darren Meenan 74), Graham Rusk, Cillian Morrison (Robbie Benson 66).

Subs not used: Mark McGinlay, Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry, Daniel Ledwith, Ger O’Callaghan.

Derry City: Ger Doherty, Eddie McCallion, Stewart Greacan, Shane McEleney, Daniel Lafferty, Patrick McEleney (David McDaid 90), Ruari Harkin, Barry Molloy, Stephen McLaughlin, Gareth McGlynn, Eamon Zayed.

Subs not used: Eugene Ferry, Emmet Friars, Ryan McBride, Michael McCrudden, Thomas McBride, James Henry.