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Date Time League Season
27 May 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Derry and Harps draw in North-West derby

Derry and Finn Harps played out an entertaining, 2-2 draw in the Northwest Derby at the Brandywell.

Filip Mahaljevic opened the scoring inside eight minutes before an opportunistic Will Patching free kick levelled matters.

However, Eric McWoods was sprung through on the hour and he tucked home. In the 93rd minute, after built up Derry pressure, skipper Eoin Toal soared to score with a header and salvage a dramatic late point.

It was a meeting of second versus second from bottom between two sides out of form. And yet it was the relegation-threatened visitors who scored first as Filip Mihaljevic composedly slotted home after Ryan Rainey played him in.  

Regan Donelon had a free kick cannoned off the crossbar, but Derry equalised against the run of play. Jose Carrillo gave a free kick away and Mark McGinley was spotted off his goal line by the alert Will Patching who skilfully walloped it into the net.  

The feistiness of the Derby clash came to life before half time with a series of bookings including for Harps manager, Ollie Horgan.  

Despite Derry starting the second half brightly, Harps retook the lead on the hour when Eric McWoods was played in by Bastien Hery and McWoods skedaddled inside Eoin Toal to lash past Brian Maher.  

Substitute James Akintunde was lively and from his cross, right back Ronan Boyce drew a stunning save from McGinley to preserve the visitor’s lead. Moments later, McGinley was booked for timewasting just before five added minutes were announced.  

And in the fourth of these, Toal climbed highest to power a header home from Patching’s pinpoint cross and rescue a point for the home side.  

It will feel like two points dropped for both given Finn Harp’s league position and Derry’s late theatrical leveller. A point does both sides little good as the winless drought continues and they will have to wait until the 10th of June for their next chance to taste victory.  

Derry City

26Brian Maher Goalkeeper
17Cameron McJannet Defender
6Eoin Toal Defender
16Shane McEleney Defender
2Ronan Boyce Defender
29Jack Malone 24 Midfielder
8Joe Thomson 11 Midfielder
14Will Patching Midfielder 21'
12Matty Smith Forward
20Brandon Kavanagh 25 Midfielder
9Jamie McGonigle Forward
1Nathan Gartside Goalkeeper
3Ciaran Coll Defender
11James Akintunde 8 Forward
24Danny Lafferty 29 Defender
25Evan McLaughlin 20 Defender
17Gerard Storey Midfielder
37Daithi McCallion Defender
38Liam Mullan Midfielder
33Caoimhin Porter Defender

Finn Harps

1Mark McGinley Goalkeeper
2Conor Tourish Defender
9Rob Slevin Defender
15Jose Carrillo Defender
19Regan Donelon 26 Defender 45'
6Ryan Connolly Midfielder 43'
21Bastien Hery 11 Midfielder
22Ryan Rainey Midfielder
8Eric McWoods 12 Forward
33Filip Mihaljevic Forward 7'
Gavin Mulreany Goalkeeper
40Gerard Doherty Goalkeeper
26Erol Erdal Alkan 19 Defender
9Yoyo Mahdy Forward
11Jesse Devers 21 Midfielder
12Luke Rudden 8 Forward
10Mark Timlin Midfielder
31Nathan Logue Midfielder
20Shaun McDermott Defender
  • 90'

    Thanks for joining me tonight

  • 90'

    It ends 2-2!! What a finish! A point, you feel, won't fully satisfy either side

  • The Derry skipper has equalised!! 2-2 in the 93rd minute! Harsh on Harps

  • 89'

    McGinley booked for timewasting. Five minutes of added time for Derry to salvage something

  • 84'

    And as I say that, Ronan Boyce is denied by a stunning save from Mark McGinley. Then Patching whistles a fierce volley narrowly wide

  • 82'

    Finn Harps holding firm, although to be frank, Derry aren't posing much of an attacking problem despite all their possession. Their desperation to score is being matched by Hap's shrewd game-management and timewasting

  • 77'

    Goalscorer McWoods is replaced by Luke Rudden

  • 74'

    Finn Harp's first sub, Erol Alkan for Donelon

  • 74'

    Finn Harp's first sub

  • 70'

    Another home change

  • 70'

    Another home change

  • 61'

    Immediate changes made by Ruaidhri Higgins. Another sees Evan McLaughlin replace Brandon Kavanagh

  • 61'

    Immediate changes made by Ruaidhri Higgins

  • 61'

    Immediate changes made by Ruaidhri Higgins

  • 60'

    Eric McWoods fires Finn Harps back in front! Bastien Hery's precise pass helps McWoods stay onside, he cuts inside Eoin Toal and slots the ball in beyond home keeper Brian Maher

  • 57'

    The Candystripes applying some pressure now. First, the ball balloons off a surprised Jamie McGonigle in the box before Patching fires a free kick, similarly positioned to his goal, over the top

  • 51'

    Joe Thomson marauds forward and his shot is only just wide

  • 50'

    Harps starting the half the stronger. Three successive corners lead to a chance for Carrillo and his header flashes across the area

  • 46'

    Second half back underway

  • 45'

    Half Time: Derry-1 Harps-1

  • 45'

    And now Donelon goes in the book for backchatting to a linesman

  • 43'

    The visiting midfielder is the first player to be yellow carded

  • 40'

    First booking of the North West Derby actually goes to Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan for overzealously protesting a decision to penalise Rainey for ball-keeping, timewasting antics

  • 29'

    Eric McWoods giving Finn Harps a prominent presence up front, not allowing the Derry defence a minute's rest. Scrappy period of the match at the moment

  • 21'

    Will Patching equalises! Jose Carrillo gives away a free kick and Patching opportunistically lashes the set piece into Mark McGinley's top corner! Just what the home side needed

  • 7'

    Harps are ahead!! Filip Mihaljevic strikes with a supremely calm finish after Ryan Rainey played it into him, the second from bottom visitors lead!!

  • 5'

    Nervy opening from the hosts, passes not quite sticking. Ethan Boyle's drifting header wide for Harps the best chance so far

  • Underway

  • Hi and welcome to tonight's coverage of Derry City vs Finn Harps. I'm Rory Morrow and kick off at the Brandywell is at 7:45

Past Meetings

(Round 9)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Derry City

(Series 34)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Derry City

(Series 27)
2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Finn Harps

(Round 2)
1 - 0
FAI Cup
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Derry City

(Round 16)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Derry City

(Series 9)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Finn Harps

(Series 11)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps v Derry City

(Series 2)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Finn Harps

4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC

1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC

4 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC

5
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park

Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC

Officials

Referee
Adriano Reale

Ground

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Ryan McBride Brandywell, Derry, Northern Ireland, BT48 6NP, United Kingdom

QUB Student, passion for Sports Journalism Editor @ The Gown QUB Newspaper Reporter for @ FinalWhistle