| Derry bring reality of Premier Division home |
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| Monday, 27 March 2006 | |
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Sligo Rovers got their first lesson in Premier Division life last night as a skilful Derry City side made the most of their chances to win out three one in the Brandywell.
Sligo Rovers got their first lesson in Premier Division life last night as a skilful Derry City side made the most of their chances to win out three one in the Brandywell. In a game dominated by the slick possession game played by the hosts, the benefits of Setanta Cup involvement for Derry was clear as they held on to the ball, carved out chances and were clinical in their execution. Rovers relative lack of match practice was made up for by some encouraging displays and a collective attitude that ensured that The Candystripes took nothing for granted until the final whistle. The Bit O’Red fielded that same starting eleven as the opening game against Bohs with Liam Burns coming through a late fitness test. And the game plan was similar, defending from the front, breaking down possession in the middle and quick counter attacks. Derry manager, Stephen Kenny was an interested spectator at The Showgrounds Saturday last and his team set out their stall from the start, playing the possession game and getting down the flanks behind the Rovers defence. It proved more than effective in the opening half as the home side dominated for long periods with Pat McCourt in particular proving a thorn in the side of Rovers back five. The game was scrappy initially but City came to life on the quarter hour when Harrigan and Molloy both went close. As Rovers got to grips with the home side, the gaps closed and Derry were restricted to a deflected Brennan effort that went narrowly over. Such was the effectiveness of the home side’s tactics, The Bit O’Red were limited to a single sight of goals falling to Sean Flannery who turned well outside the box on the half hour, but there was insuffient venom in his shot to beat the experienced Forde. Despite Rovers aggressive start to the second forty five, it took only three minutes for Derry to go ahead when Pat McCourt cutting down the left fired a low cross goal ward that was deflected past O’Hara by Liam Burns. Rovers barely had time to take it all in when on fifty two minutes the Candystripes doubled their lead, again McCourt was involved, firing a corner into the Rovers box that was cleared only as far as Gary Beckett who made no mistake from close range. The Bit O’Red didn’t drop the heads and kept battling. Darren Mansaram came in for Flannery and his athleticism told immediately giving Osam and Hutton plenty to think about. As the visitors pushed on Derry dealt a killer-blow in the sixty ninth minute when a McNamara backpass put O’Hara into trouble, the Mayo-man taking down Mark Farren in the boix and it was Farren who stepped up to convert. Rovers did have a consolation when Michael McNamara took advantage of Forde fumbling a Keith Foy corner from the left, his shot going in off the crossbar, but despite pushing forward in the final stages, the visitors couldn’t get back within reach of a superior Derry side. Next on the agenda is a tough away assignment against Longford on Monday night, kick-off 7.30 pm at Flancare Park. TEAMS Rovers John O'Hara, Gavin Peers (Jamie McKenzie), Keith Foy, Michael McNamara, Liam Burns, Conor O'Grady, Adam Hughes, Fahrudin Kudozovic, Sean Flannery (Matt Judge), Paul McTiernan (Darren Mansarem), Chris Turner Subs not used: tbc Derry City tbc |
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