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Dominant Derry destroy Harps
06.05.10
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Derry City...2 (McClean 45, McDaid 51) Finn Harps...0 by Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, at the Brandywell (Photo: Herbie Barr) FINN Harps’ long miserable run against Derry City is set to continue for at least another week after the Candy Stripes comfortably dispatched their North-West neighbours at the Brandywell on Tuesday night. Quick-fire goals either side of half-time by James McClean and David McDaid were enough to see off the challenge of inexperienced Harps, who ended the game with only nine players after Jonathan Minnock and Matty Crossan were red-carded in the second-half. Stephen Kenny’s young charges have extended their lead at the top of the First Division to three points and appear already to be on a relentless charge back to the Premier League. Harps are languishing 14 points behind in 8th place and on this evidence the gap between the two clubs will soon be as wide as the distance between Ballybofey and Derry. |
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Playing five across
midfield, James Gallagher’s gameplan was to thwart the
home attack and catch the Candy Stripes on the break.
And while Derry enjoyed long periods of possession Harps
rarely threatened with Davitt Walsh a frustrated figure,
who found himself increasingly isolated as the match
developed. On his return to the Brandywell Kevin McHugh spent most of his time scampering back in an attempt to contain the likes of James McClean and Kevin Derry. The Inishowen contingent made late entries to the fray, with former Clonmany star Stephen McLaughlin replacing Marc Brolly after 67 minutes and Mark Farren coming on for man-of-the-match James McClean with three minutes left. Shroove teenager James Henry was not included in the Derry squad. The writing was on the wall for the Donegal Blues as early as the first minute when Derry City striker Patrick McEleney ghosted through the Harps defence before dragging his shot wide of Liam Mailey’s goal. A James McClean centre moments later was headed over the top by Mark Scoltock before David McDaid and Ruairi Harkin brilliantly combined to win a Derry City corner, which was eventually cleared. McDaid was pivotal during the next home attack, playing a one-two with Patrick McEleney before releasing McClean, whose resultant shot was blocked. |
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The Candy Stripes should
have opened their account on the half hour mark but
keeper Liam Mailey brilliantly denied David McDaid
before McEleney’s follow-up shot was cleared off the
line by Harps defender Matty Crossan. A rare Harps foray towards the Showgrounds end in the first-half saw Davitt Walsh win a free, which was swung in by Michael Funston before Gerard Doherty came to the home team’s rescue with a solid punch. With the game heading towards half-time stalemate, Derry struck. Kevin Deery was upended by Jonathan Minnock, who was lucky to stay on the field after being booked for a late challenge on McClean minutes earlier, and, at the second attempt, the young City winger fired low and hard to the bottom corner of the Harps net. McClean celebrated by kissing his badge in front of Minnock, a move that angered the Harps players and led to chaotic scenes, which even spilled into the home tunnel after Rob Rogers’ half-time whistle. Six minutes into the second period and the game was over as a contest. Derry City striker David McDaid took full advantage of a shambolic mix-up between Harps defenders, Crossan and Mailey, and goalkeeper Liam Mailey to nip in and flick the ball into the empty net. Moments later and McDaid should have made it 3-0 only to be denied by Mailey before James McClean’s shot was cleared off the line as Harps earned a stay of execution. All hopes were extinguished for the visitors after an hour when Jonathan Minnock received his marching orders for a second yellow card for a foul on McClean, who had tormented the Harps defence all night. A succession of home chances, mercifully for Harps, failed to yield the third, fourth or even fifth goal, which, at times, had looked inevitable. McDaid (twice), McClean (twice) and substitute Vincent Sweeney could all have added to the home tally before Harps woes were compounded in injury time with the dismissal of Matty Crossan, who was shown a second yellow card after clashing with a Derry defender before a corner was taken. Many of the away supporters were in their cars towards Killea and beyond by the time Crossan made his long walk back to the changing rooms. A chorus of ‘You’ll never beat the City’ rang out across the Brandywell. Harps have the chance to put that chant to bed at the same venue in the League Cup on Monday night. Few would bet against a similar outcome though. Derry City have now won their last eleven straight games against Finn Harps, who last defeated their arch rivals in the now defunct Irish News Cup in 1999. Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Eddie McCallion, Emmet Friars, Mark McChrystal, Mark Scoltock, Barry Molloy, Ruairi Harkin, Kevin Deery, David McDaid, Patrick McEleney, James McClean. Subs: Darren Cassidy for Harkin, Vincent Sweeney for McEleney, Mark Farren for McClean. Finn Harps: Liam Mailey, James Doherty, Matty Crossan, Jonathan Minnock, Packie Mailey, Michael Funston, Davitt Walsh, Marc Brolly, Kevin McHugh, Thomas Bonner, Johnny Lafferty. Subs: Stephen McLaughlin for Brolly, Gary Whoriskey for Walsh, Mark Forker for Bonner. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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