Dundalk 1-0 Derry City
Substitute John Mountney’s late strike maintained Dundalk’s 100% home record but the Lilywhites had to dig deep to overcome Derry City at Oriel Park.
Sprung from the bench as a replacement for Darren Meenan, Mountney’s deflected 87th-minute effort left Shaun Patton with no chance in the Derry City goal, and was enough to move Dundalk seven points clear of the chasing pack in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
The outcome was hard to take for Peter Hutton and his Derry side.
Up to that point the visitors had more than matched the champions and they will have made the journey back to Foyleside feeling that they should have taken at least a share of the spoils.
A hamstring injury to Brian Gartland meant that Stephen Kenny was forced to make a change to his back four for the first time in a league game since last June. Paddy Barrett came in for his first Premier Division start but elsewhere, it was a case of as you were for the champions.
Hutton had no such luxuries. The Candystripes, who were booed off The Brandywell pitch by their own supporters following the 2-0 defeat to Galway Utd last week, arrived in Dundalk without the services of goalkeeper Ger Doherty and long term absentees, Patrick McEleney and Stephen Dooley.
Shaun Patton deputised for Doherty with Dean Jarvis, Seamus Sharkey and Seanan Clucas all restored to the starting XI.
Four minutes had elapsed when the first chance of a dour first half arrived. Shane McEleney’s mistake allowed Dundalk’s David McMillan to take possession and go for goal but his shot lacked direction. Sean Gannon then jinked his way into the box but his effort was blocked by Ryan McBride.
Dundalk’s last outing at Oriel Park saw them put eight past Bray Wanderers but they lacked a cutting edge during the first period. The nearest Kenny’s side came to threatening Patton again came in the 18th minute.
Barrett was involved, his searching pass finding Richie Towell on the right but Ronan Finn could only head the subsequent cross over the top.
The visitors threatened a minute later. Aaron Barry was allowed make progress on the left and his cross picked out Cillian Morrison who could only glance his header into Gary Rogers’ grateful arms.
The Dundalk goalkeeper then had to gather a Mark Timlin cross cum shot at the second attempt six minutes later. It signalled the start of a decent period for the Candystripes who grew in stature as the half wore on.
Referee Jim McKell brought a forgettable first half to a close with the game scoreless, much to the frustration of the home support.
The natives grew even more restless in the second half as Derry continued to stand firm.
The biggest shout of the evening up to that point arrived in the 57th minute when Darren Meenan picked the pocket of McEleney on the edge of the penalty area but the City centre back recovered with a fine last ditch tackle with McKell waving away Meenan’s appeals for a penalty.
It was the Derry bench who were up in arms in the 65th minute when Morrison went down under heavy pressure from Barrett in the Dundalk penalty area. The players in yellow shirts demanded a penalty but McKell said no, a let off for the Dundalk centre back.
Kenny turned to his bench, introducing Stephen O’Donnell and Mountney in quick succession and it was club captain O’Donnell who almost broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, his fantastic half-volley tipped over by Patton.
It looked like Dundalk would draw a blank for the first time this season but Mountney’s deflected effort, which left Patton flat footed, proved decisive.
There was still time for late drama. Substitute Kurtis Byrne was denied an insurance goal and Dundalk almost paid the price in the six minutes of additional time with Barrett and Gannon both clearing the ball off their line.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Chris Shields (Stephen O’Donnell 66); Darren Meenan (John Mountney 69), Ronan Finn (Kurtis Byrne 84), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan.
Subs not used: Shane Grimes, Jake Kelly, Ciaran O’Connor, Gabriel Sava (GK).
Derry City: Shaun Patton; Seamus Sharkey, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Aaron Barry; Mark Timlin, Seanan Clucas, Barry McNamee (Sean Houston 87), Philip Lowry, Dean Jarvis; Cillian Morrison (Ryan Curran 82).
Subs not used: Shaun Kelly, Anthony Elding, Josh Daniels, Ronan Curtis, Michael Lynch (GK).
Referee: Jim McKell.
