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Date Time League Season
13 September 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Derry City close in on Shamrock Rovers once more at the top

A dominant Derry City dented Sligo’s European aspiration whilst also keeping apace atop the Premier Division standings, as they edged a bitty contest, 1-0

Will Patching was the matchwinner for the Candystripes. Patching’s peach of a free kick in the fifteenth minute enough to see off a disapprovingly tame Sligo Rovers.

Derry dominated but Ryan Graydon spurned their first opportunity as his header from six yards out, after sumptuous play by Cameron McJannet, flew wide.

It was soon forgotten however as the hosts early pressure yielded the lead. Robbie Burton, who was sloppy at times, conceded a cheap free kick in prime Patching territory.

From the left edge of the D, the midfielder curled in a beauty. A trademark top corner strike, another example of Patching’s party piece. 

The lively Michael Duffy and Cameron Dummigan came close to doubling Derry’s advantage before Sligo emerged out of their shell.

Paddy Kirk purposefully pushed up from left-back and his delicious cross needed the intervention of Brian Maher’s fingertip as top scorer Aidan Keena lurked for any loose ball.

Jamie McGonigle thundered a fizzing volley just high after the break before Graydon guilted another header, this time from Duffy’s wonderfully wafted cross.

As the clock ticked down, the nerves steadily increased in the Brandywell. Defender Mark Connolly, however, was immune to any anxiety as he made a series of brave blocks & intelligent interventions. He looks increasingly a steal of a signing from Dundalk & was a calming presence.

In injury time, Danny Lafferty made his centurion, 100th appearance for Derry. Yet it was one of Sligo’s subs, Max Mata, who nearly pooped the party in the 94th minute.

Keena weighted an ingenious chip in behind Derry’s backline but from a tight angle, Mata could only lift high. Seconds later, the whistle went, to cue delirium.

An important result for both sides as Derry maintains the pressure on Shamrock, their breathing down their neck in the league only adds to an already enticing FAI Cup quarter-final with them on Sunday.

Sligo, meanwhile, must ponder why they sat so deep, despite possessing a formidable attack, until the 1st of October when they welcome, whom other than, Shamrock Rovers themselves.

Derry will pray that Keena, Mata & Frank Livaak get more chances that night than they did on tonight’s tricky trip to an inform Northwest team.

Derry City

26Brian Maher Goalkeeper
17Cameron McJannet Defender
16Shane McEleney Defender
6Mark Connolly Defender
2Ronan Boyce Defender
23Cameron Dummigan Defender 61'
10Patrick McEleney Midfielder 66'
14Will Patching 8 Midfielder 15'
7Michael Duffy 24 Midfielder
19Ryan Graydon 29 Forward
9Jamie McGonigle 11 Forward 44'
30Jack Lemoignan Goalkeeper
8Joe Thomson 14 Midfielder
11James Akintunde 9 Forward
20Brandon Kavanagh Midfielder
21Declan Glass Midfielder
22Jordan McEneff Midfielder
23Sadou Diallo Midfielder
24Danny Lafferty 7 Defender
29Cian Kavanagh 19 Forward

Sligo Rovers

16Luke McNicholas Goalkeeper
2Lewis Banks Defender 69'
4Shane Blaney Defender 45'
19Paddy Kirk Defender
28Nando Pijnaker Defender
6Greg Bolger 8 Midfielder
7Will Fitzgerald Midfielder
17Adam McDonnell 27 Midfielder
18Robbie Burton 22 Midfielder 41'
9Aidan Keena Forward
10Frank Liivak Forward
31Conor Walsh Goalkeeper
3Colm Horgan Defender
5Cameron Evans Defender
8Niall Morahan 6 Midfielder
22David Cawley 18 Midfielder
27Max Mata 17 Forward
34Kailin Barlow Midfielder
41Eanna Clancy Defender
  • Thanks for joining me tonight and see you again soon!

  • The Candystripes move back to within one point of league leaders Shamrock Rovers! A big setback for Sligo's European hopes

  • 95'

    FULL TIME: 1-0 to Derry City!

  • 94'

    CHANCE: Mata is played din by Keena's delightful chip pass but Shane McEleney ushers it out, calmness personified

  • 92'

    Danny Lafferty makes his centurion, 100th, appearance for Derry, replacing Duffy. David Cawley has also replaced Burton for the visitors

  • 89'

    Which leads to a counterattack and Akintude haring downfield, McNicholas does well to rush out

  • 88'

    Sligo free kick from the position Patching scored...

  • 85'

    For large parts of this match, for me as a neutral, Derry have epitomised the saying that "Attack is the best form of defence" as they press high and keep Sligo penned in at the moment

  • 83'

    The tireless Graydon is replaced by young striker, Cain Kavanagh

  • 78'

    The Brandywell atmosphere is nervous, it's safe to say! Keena & Livaak are so potent if they get an opportunity!

  • 75'

    DEFENDED: Mark Connolly to the rescue for Derry bundling the ball out for a corner before it reached Sligo's Frank Livaak!

  • 74'

    CHANCE: In between all that, McEleney zinged a venomous shot that McNicholas did well to tip behind. Tense final fifteen minutes now

  • 71'

    SUBSTITUTION: Glaswegian Joe Thomson & James Akintunde replace Patching, currently the matchwinner, & McGonigle for the Candystripes

  • 69'

    Yellow Card: Three cards apiece as Banks fouls Dummigan

  • 68'

    CHANCE: McGonigle is one decent touch away from a glorious shooting opportunity before Graydon spurns another headed chance, gliding a tricky header just wide after Duffy wafted a fine cross in

  • 66'

    Uncharacteristic from Derry's captain, Patrick McEleney, as he is pickpocketed by Fitzgerald & cynically chops him down to prevent a counterattack

  • 63'

    Double change for Sligo: Max Mata & Niall Morahan on for Adam McDonnell & Bolger

  • 61'

    Dummigan hacks down Lewis Banks and is the second home player in the book

  • 56'

    CHANCE: Derry close to doubling their lead! First, Duffy shoots straight at McNicholas from Patching's corner. McGonigle then unleashes a rasping volley that skims just over, possibly grazing the crossbar on its way!

  • 50'

    Sligo starting the second half with far more attacking energy than the first!

  • 46'

    Second Half back underway!

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: 1-0. A half of Derry dominance & cynical fouls towards the end- the Candystripes only lead through Patching's peach of a free kick- can Sligo get back into it in the second half?

  • 45'

    Its raining bookings now! Shane Blaney blatantly fouls the nippy Graydon and collects a yellow card

  • 44'

    Jamie McGonigle now deservedly sees yellow for a brainless tackle on Nando Pjnaker

  • 41'

    Burton scythes down Patching, again, and at last is in ref Harvey's notepad

  • 40'

    A great few minutes for Maher as he now cheekily sashays away from the pressing Fitzgerald who chased Keena's clever pass

  • 35'

    CHANCE: Sligo's best opportunity as Paddy Kirk gallops forward from left-back. He sends in a delicious cross but with Keena lurking, Brian Maher leaps well and gets a crucial fingertip to divert it from danger

  • 30'

    CHANCE: Cameron Dummigan dispossessess Bolger and lashes in a devious, low drive that McNicholas is sharp to scrabble across too in time

  • 28'

    The hosts knocking on the door for a second goal here, they will want to strike while the iron's hot & will want at least a two-goal comfort blanket as soon as possible

  • 20'

    There's not been a lot wrong with Sligo's defending so far- however they are defending so deep & so much that they are really inviting Derry's tidal wave of pressure, which is what it has been, onto them

  • 15'

    WHAT A FREE KICK, TAKE A BOW, WILL PATCHING!! Patching has punished Sligo's fouling to the maximum there- a goal that had been coming since the start. Away goalie, Luke McNicholas was close to it but no cigar

  • 12'

    Visiting captain, Greg Bolger, can count himself fortunate not to be booked for a naughty one on McJannet. Now, Robbie Burton fouls Patching outside the area

  • 9'

    CHANCE: Oh, Ryan Graydon you should score that! Cameron McJannet goes on a marauding jaunt down the left wing, steadies himself & his cross is a peach onto the head of Graydon who nods it wide with the goal gaping!!

  • 6'

    Derry have started really brightly, Duffy is being closely crowded out by Sligo but even so, he's still a danger. By contrast, I don't think Sligo's Keena has yet even had a touch! Rovers have barely crossed the halfway line here early on

  • NOW, we're going, Will Patching kicks us off!

  • Scratch that- kick off delayed as the linesman is unhappy with the goal netting after Michael Duffy's strike scorched it the other night

  • Tonight's referee, Robert Harvey blows his whistle and we're underway!

  • Teams emerging from the tunnel now

  • TEN minutes until we're underway!

  • Both team's squads tonight can be viewed in full under "Lineups" on our website- kick off is 40 minutes away

  • John Russell tweaks just one player in his starting eleven- Max Mata is replaced by Will Fitzgerald as Sligo's dangerman, the league's top scorer, Aidan Keena, starts

  • Derry make three alterations from Friday's win over Bohs- Jamie McGonigle, Will Patching & Shane McEleney, who all came on as substitutes, are in from the start tonight. James Akintunde & Sadou Diallo drop to the bench whilst defender Ciaran Coll is not involved after his nasty injury- we are relived to hear though that he is out of hospital

  • Its a big match in the context of both the title race and scramble for European places, let's get some team news

  • Good evening, I'm Rory Morrow and welcome to our coverage of Derry City vs Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division tonight, here on FinalWhistle.ie

Past Meetings

(Round 17)
2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

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

Derry City v Sligo Rovers

(Series 35)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Sligo Rovers

(Series 25)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

(Series 17)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Sligo Rovers

(Series 7)
0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

(Quarter Final)
0 - 0
FAI Cup
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

(Series 15)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers v Derry City

(Series 6)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Sligo Rovers

1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

3 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

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

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
The Showgrounds

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Sligo Rovers FC

Officials

Referee
Robert Harvey

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