1 v 2 
Derry CityDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 July 2022 | 6:00 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2022 |
Match Report
Derry go second with stoppage time Akintunde winner against Finn Harps
Derry City went second in the Premier Division as James Akintunde bagged an injury time winner in the Northwest Derby.
Trailing to Robert Jones’s first half header, the Candystripes transformed the game as two substitutes scored. Ryan Graydon levelled with ten minutes left before Akintunde forced the ball home to cue pandemonium amongst the away fans at Finn Park.
Both teams were desperate for three points tonight, yet the first quarter was uneventful, a Matty Smith zinger the nearest thing to a goal.
When a goal did come, it came via a set piece. Regan Donelon delivered and Robert Jones, bizarrely left unmarked by Derry, thundered a header past Brian Maher to send Finn Park wild.
Ruaidhri Higgins made a double change at half time including the introduction of new signing, Sadou Diallo. Yet as Harps dropped deeper and Derry monopolised possession, the Candystripes still trailed.
Ryan Graydon, another summer signing, had an immediate impact on his arrival but mis controlled the ball at the key moment. Graydon’s pace against a robust Harps defence saw all the home defenders collect bookings.
As Ollie Horgan’s side became more and more reliant on superb individual, last-gasp tackles, Derry were in complete control and finally equalised.
Ironically, it came via the direct style. Cameron Dummigan’s hoof up field went uncontested and Graydon gleefully nipped in, stooping low to head past Mark McGinley, his first goal for the club.
McGinley was keeping the hosts in it as moments ago he had brilliantly repelled Patrick McEleney’s long-range rasper.
Having levelled, Higgin’s troops continued to push forward. And they got their rewards in injury time. Will Patching floated the ball into the mix and Akintunde, making a menace of himself in the box, reacted instinctively to prod past McGinley and cue bedlam in the away end.
Having also denied Harps victory in injury time at the Brandywell, the Northwest Derby bragging rights rest, for now, with Higgin’s team.
A huge win for Derry, they now sit a point above Dundalk in second place, have emphatically bounced back from their European elimination and this success is their third straight away win in the league. They host Sligo on Friday, in formidable form.
For Finn Harps, the contrast with Derry’s delight will be raw. UCD’s win at Sligo rubs salt in the wound and moves the bottom two teams’ level on points. They have another tough test next, travelling to Dundalk.
Things are certainly heating up in the Premier Division this summer.
Timeline
| 18. Robert Jones | 31' | |
| 16. Harry Nicolson | 44' | |
| 45' | Joe Thomson Sadou Diallo | |
| 45' | Danny Lafferty Brandon Kavanagh | |
| 4. Rob Slevin | 49' | |
| 11. Ryan Rainey | 56' | |
| 60' | Matty Smith Ryan Graydon | |
| 6. Ryan Connolly | 62' | |
| Barry McNamee Filip Mihaljevic | 62' | |
| Regan Donelon Mark Timlin | 62' | |
| Ryan Connolly Bastien Hery | 62' | |
| 66' | 10. Patrick McEleney | |
| 4. Conor Tourish | 68' | |
| 5. Ethan Boyle | 74' | |
| 80' | Ryan Graydon | |
| 33. Filip Mihaljevic | 90' | |
| Ethan Boyle Sean O'Donnell | 90' | |
| 90' | 11. James Akintunde |
Past Meetings
|
(Round 18)
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City v Finn Harps |
|
(Round 9)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Derry City |
|
(Series 34)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Derry City |
|
(Series 27)
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City v Finn Harps |
|
(Round 2)
1 - 0FAI Cup
Finn Park Finn Harps v Derry City |
|
(Round 16)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Derry City |
|
(Series 9)
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 11)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Derry City |
|
(Series 2)
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City v Finn Harps |
4 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC |
1 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC |
4 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC |
2 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC |
5LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC |
2 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium Derry City FC v Finn Harps FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Derry City FC |
Officials
| Referee |
|---|
| Derek Tomney |
Ground
| Finn Park |
|---|
| Finn Park, Navenny Street, Stranorlar Electoral Division, Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, County Donegal, F93 Y27K, Ireland |
Rory Morrow
QUB Student, passion for Sports Journalism Editor @ The Gown QUB Newspaper Reporter for @ FinalWhistle
Incredible scenes at the end. Harps leading for so long but for Derry to snatch it late on! They're now second. Thanks for joining me for what turned into a thriller
Full Time: Derry win 2-1, what drama!
Akintunde scores in the 93rd minute! Patching delivers and its forced home by the substitute, will that be the winner?!
Over aggressive pressing from Mihaljevic sees him booked as we head into injury time
Frantic intensity to both team's play now- a draw is an unsatisfactory outcome for both
Graydon equalises! A long ball issnt cleared and the sub steals in to stoop low and plant a header past McGinley!
James Akintunde now on as Derry go for it
McEleney lashes it from range and Mark McGinley saves superbly!
Now Ethan Boyle gets carded- again its a foul on Graydon
Conor Tourish gets Harp's fifth booking for hauling back Graydon
Derry's first card goes to Patrick McEleney for simulation in the box
Connolly booked for time wasting as he goes off
Graydon fires over before a triple change for Harps. Midfielders Connolly and McNamee off along with Donelon as Timlin, Hery and Mihaljevic take their places
Graydon fires over before a triple change for Harps. Midfielders Connolly and McNamee off along with Donelon as Timlin, Hery and Mihaljevic take their places
Ryan Graydon on for Smith
Ryan Rainey is booked for time wasting... we've still 35 minutes to go!
Derry are monopolising the ball but Diallo fires high as Harps defend well
Rob Slevin joins Nicolson in the book for a late tackle on Kavanagh
The visitors have started brightly, the susb both getting on the ball. Derry remember go second tonight with a win
Back underway! A double Derry sub to update you on: New signing Sadou Diallo and Brandon Kavanagh have come on for Joe Thomson and Lafferty
Harps 1-0 up at half time as the last action of the half sees Elie-gael N'Zeyi head just over the top
Debutant Harry Nicholson is booked for pulling back Jamie McGonigle
Derry look to draw level but Patching fires a free kick over the bar
Finn Harps ahead and its Robert Jones with his first goal for the club! Regan Donelon delivers the corner and an unattended Jones thumps home
Now Matty Smith zings a low shot just wide after a neat layoff by Will Patching. The sides now taking a water break
A half-chance now as Danny Lafferty finds space to cross but home defender Conor Tourish is well placed to clear
Both sides having their share of possession but still no openings at a sunny Finn Park
Neither team has created a clear-cut chance with a quarter of an hour gone
From a Harps free kick, Ethan Boyle heads across goa. Brian Maher looks in pain but thankfully for Derry, is able to continue
Underway!
Good evening and welcome to tonight's coverage of Finn Harps vs Derry City in the Premier Division. Kick off is at 6pm