Derry City v UCD: Match Preview

  

Derry City FC v. UCD AFC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 32, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 29^th September 2023, kick-off 7.45pm

 

            Derry City’s title push has been dealt a significant blow after losing 1-0 to Sligo Rovers last Friday. A late Stefan Radoslavjević goal punished the ten men of City, who struggled to get a foothold in the game. The Candystripe faithful felt hard done by, with referee Rob Harvey denying Derry a seemingly clear penalty when the game was at 0-0.  Shamrock Rovers’ goalless draw with UCD rubbed salt into the Derry wounds, as a win for Derry would have cut the gap to the top to two points.

           

            Shamrock Rovers now sit five points clear of Derry City at the top of the Premier Division table and will need to lose at least two of their last five games in order to give the Candystripes a chance at catching them. It's definitely not impossible, but it'll be some task. Ruaidhrí Higgins men suddenly found themselves looking over their shoulder too, as a win on Monday night for St. Pat’s over Drogheda, in their game in hand, would have seen the Inchicore side go into second place. Drogheda's Dayle Rooney's goal of the season contender ensured the win for the team from Louth however, keeping Derry in second.

 

            Despite a draw against the champions, made more impressive by the fact they had just 20% of the ball and faced 23 shots, UCD’s relegation to the First Division was confirmed on Friday. This came just a day after it was announced that manager Andy Myler would leave his role at the end of the season. It was also confirmed on Friday that UCD would be replaced in the Premier Division by Galway United. The Tribesmen’s 4-0 away win over Kerry FC ensured their return to Ireland’s top domestic league after a six year absence. Galway currently have a massive goal difference of +66 and their 4-0 FAI Cup win over Dundalk shows that they ought to be respected in 2024.

 

            Friday’s meeting between Derry City and UCD will be the second between the teams in September alone. Derry swept the Students aside earlier in the month, beating them 5-0 in the UCD Bowl. The Candystripes will hope for a similar outcome this time round, but UCD’s resilience against Shamrock Rovers shows that Derry will have to be clinical.

           

            Since that win against UCD earlier in the month, City have drawn with Shamrock Rovers and lost to Sligo Rovers – two results which have dented their title push.

 

            Derry City were without Patrick McEleney against Sligo on Friday – the 31 year old also missed out on Derry’s game against Shamrock Rovers and hasn’t featured for the Candystripes since that 5-0 win over UCD. Shane McEleney has served his one game ban after a straight red card against Rovers, but City will be without Ronan Boyce for the tie against UCD after his red card in Sligo. Jamie McGonigle hasn’t played for Derry since their 3-1 away win to Dundalk at the start of the month, but has been an unused substitute in the three games since – he’ll be hoping to get a run out against UCD after scoring a hat-trick against the Students last season. Sam Todd will also want to play against his former club, but has played just twice for Derry since signing during the summer.

 

            UCD have nothing but pride to play for after the confirmation of their relegation. They were without defender Adam Wells against Shamrock Rovers after suspension, but he is eligible for the game against Derry. The Students haven’t scored in the league since a 1-1 draw with Cork City on the 11^th of August, conceding eleven goals and picking up just one point since that draw in Turner’s Cross. UCD’s main threat comes from 21 year old striker Danu Kinsella-Bishop, who is their top scorer with five goals. Ciaran Behan has also scored twice and made three assists from midfield in the 2023 campaign. 18 year old Jake Doyle has netted thrice and recorded one assist. Donegal native Jack Keaney is the UCD captain and has made 30 appearances this term. Winger Daniel Norris has made 28, whilst former Derry midfielder Brendan Barr, Adam Wells and Kinsella-Bishop have made 26. Departing manager Andy Myler is no stranger to switching up his tactics. He has set up in a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 5-3-2 and 5-4-1 this term.

 

            There seems to have been a lot of “what if’s” this season, but this match could have been massively beneficial to Derry’s title challenge if they won last week in Sligo. Despite last week's loss, a win for Derry on Friday would close the gap to Rovers back to two points if the champions lose to Shelbourne. The Candystripes certainly aren’t down and out yet, but they will want to finish the season in a strong fashion should they be the ones lifting the trophy in November or not. They need to get a run of wins together in order to make the most of any slip-ups from Shamrock Rovers - if they are to occur again.

 

Pól O’Hare – 27 September 2023

 

 

 

           

Sligo Rovers v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Sligo Rovers FC v Derry City FC, 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division Round 31, Friday 22^nd September 2023, The Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm

 

            It’s as you were in terms of the Premier Division title race after Derry City and Shamrock Rovers played out a 1-1 draw in the Brandywell last Friday. A late Graham Burke penalty cancelled out Cameron McJannet’s opener to see the spoils shared, but the Dublin side will be happier with the result.

 

            The 1-1 draw meant that Shamrock Rovers maintain their four point buffer to second placed Derry, now with just six games remaining in the League of Ireland season. The Candystripes need to win all six of those fixtures, whilst relying on Rovers to slip up twice, if they are to realise their dream of winning a first league title this side of the millennium.

 

            That’s considerably easier said than done. Both Derry and Shamrock Rovers have to face Drogheda United, Shelbourne and St. Pat’s before the season’s out, as well as Derry travelling to Sligo this Friday. There are opportunities for points to be dropped before November, but with both City and Rovers facing the same six teams in the run in, the eventual winner will need to maintain supreme focus.

 

            Sligo Rovers, who have failed to muster a consistent run of form throughout the season, currently sit in 8^th place in the Premier Division table. A 2-0 win away to UCD at the weekend ensured they stay six points clear of Cork City in 9^th despite losing 3-0 to The Rebels a fortnight prior. The Bit O’Red will not look comfortably at their next six fixtures though, having to face Derry, Bohemians, St. Pat’s, Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers before the season’s over. They’ll be fighting tooth and nail as every point is precious at this stage of the campaign.

 

            Despite battling at opposite ends of the table, Sligo may fancy their chances against the Candystripes on Friday. Derry haven’t won away to Sligo Rovers since August 2021, when Ronan Boyce scored four minutes from time to ensure the points went north. It was an even later goal, this time for current Finn Harps man Seamas Keogh, which captured all three points for Rovers in the 2022 season. He scored in the 94^th minute in the Showgrounds in May 2022 to break City hearts and earn a 2-1 win for his side. The other game in the Showgrounds that year ended 0-0, whilst former Derry winger Will Fitzgerald scored after just three minutes in May 2023 as Sligo held out for a 1-0 win against Derry in this season’s previous fixture in the Showgrounds. This doesn’t make for great reading for the City faithful, especially when considering that Derry have won just two of the last seven meetings between the two sides.

 

Derry fans won’t forget Will Patching’s 95^th minute penalty which ensured a 2-1 win for the Candystripes in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium this July. Derry native Danny Lafferty equalised for Sligo Rovers in that game, just ten minutes after Jamie McGonigle opened the scoring. The theme of late goals in this fixture continued on St. Patrick’s Day in the other Brandywell tie this year. Ciaran Coll scored on the 81^st minute to equalise after Max Mata’s opener. That game could’ve, and probably should’ve, finished as a Derry victory. Ollie O’Neill was caught after threading the ball through to Jamie McGonigle in the first half. Just as McGonigle had wound up an effort on goal, which would beat Luke McNicholas and nestle into the bottom corner, the referee blew his whistle to stop the play. Despite allowing the game to play on, Derry were without a goal which should have stood, made worse by the fact that the ball was given back to City to take a free kick for the foul on O’Neill. Hopefully Friday’s game isn’t decided by such a blunder.

 

Both teams go into Friday desperate for three points to keep their respective title and survival hopes alive. Shamrock Rovers face UCD, a tie which they will likely win, meaning Derry will leave themselves with a real mountain to climb should they not come away victorious from the Showgrounds. Cork City, who have a game in hand on Sligo, sit six points behind the Bit O’Red and face bottom side UCD before the season is out. The pressure is on Rovers to keep that lead to six points and steer clear of a relegation play-off.

 Sligo Rovers have recorded just one win in their last six league ties - a 2-0 victory at home to UCD last weekend. They were well beaten by Cork City in early September, and fell to defeats against Shelbourne, Dundalk and St. Pat’s in August. A week after losing to Drogheda United in the first round of the FAI Cup in July, Sligo threw away a 2-0 lead to eventually draw 2-2 against the Louth side in the league. 

Derry City, on the other hand, have lost just once in their last fifteen games. That loss came away to Tobol Kostanay in August, and they haven’t tasted league defeat since a 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers in late June. City have won four of their last seven league ties since that defeat to Rovers, including 5-0 and 3-1 wins in their previous two away fixtures and the aforementioned 2-1 win over Sligo in July. The Candystripes won’t be without confidence heading into Friday’s game, knowing that wins are vital in keeping close to Shamrock Rovers.

 

Sligo Rovers had significant squad changes in the summer transfer window – something which has affected results. Highly rated former Ireland U21 goalkeeper Luke McNicholas was lost on loan to Wrexham, whilst top scorer Max Mata was sold to Shrewsbury Town. Estonian international Bogdan Vaštšuk departed and joined Vozdovac in Serbia, whilst 19 year old centre back Éanna Clancy joined UCD. There were some interesting transfers into the club, however. Former Arsenal and Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Robbie Burton, who was on loan at Sligo in 2022, joined on a short term deal. Left back Reece Hutchinson made his loan from Cheltenham Town permanent, whilst pacey winger Fabrice Hartmann’s loan from RB Leipzig was extended. Pedro Martelo, a former Portugal U20 striker, joined from Belenenses in Portugal’s second tier.

 

Luke McNicholas made 26 appearances before departing for Wales in the summer, meaning that 18 year old Conor Walsh would be made to deputise in goal. After making three appearances and conceding five goals, he was replaced by veteran Richard Brush for the UCD game. The 38 year old kept a clean sheet against the Students and may be in line for a start against Derry, owing to his experience. Across the back-line, Reece Hutchinson, Johan Brannefalk, John Mahon and New Zealand international Nando Pijnaker have all made over 20 league appearances, showing that John Russell has a preferred defensive core in his 4-2-3-1 formation. Sligo played a defensive 5-4-1 once this term, losing 3-0 to Cork City.

 

In the middle of the park, Niall Morahan, Greg Bolger, Kailin Barlow, Stefan Radosavljevic and Lukas Browning-Lagerfeldt have completed over twenty appearances too. Radosavljevic signed for Sligo Rovers from HB Torshávn, whom Derry defeated in UECL qualification this summer. Max Mata bsgged eleven goals in twenty six appearances this season before leaving and has left a hole in the attack since his departure - Sligo have scored just two league goals since the New Zealand man left the club. Frank Liivak and Will Fitzgerald both have six goal involvements in the front line, whilst Fabrice Hartmann has five. Right back Johan Brannefalk has six assists, whilst Kailin Barlow has five assists and two goals to his name. The lively Hartmann is one to watch with pace to burn and a bag of tricks. 

 

The Showgrounds has never been the happiest of hunting grounds for Derry City, but with Sligo’s poor form since the summer break, the Candystripes will hope to claim the win on Friday. Both teams could really do with the points to strengthen their fights at either end of the Premier Division table. Late goals seem to be a theme in ties between Derry and Sligo Rovers in recent times too, so expect action right until the end. Every game is a must win at this stage. 

 

Pól O’Hare – 20^th August 2023

 

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers: Match Preview

 

Derry City FC v. Shamrock Rovers FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 30, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 15^TH September 2023, kick-off 7.45pm

 

            Derry City can narrow the gap to Shamrock Rovers at the summit of the Premier Division table to just one point should they defeat the Tallaght side on Friday night. Rovers, who are chasing their fourth league title in a row, can go seven points clear should they claim victory in the Brandywell. With just six games remaining in the 2023 League of Ireland campaign, this clash between first and second has all the makings of a classic.

 

            Will Patching shone as City put five past UCD last week in their game in hand, whilst Brandon Kavanagh also netted a brace for himself. Danny Mullen scored his second goal in three games after just two minutes to set the Candystripes on the right track. The victory meant that Derry now sit four points behind Shamrock Rovers going into Friday night’s game, and all but confirmed UCD’s relegation as they lie seventeen points behind ninth placed Cork City.

 

            There is no two ways about, this clash against Rovers is the biggest game of the Premier Division season so far. City haven’t lost in the league since falling to a 1-0 defeat against the Champions in Tallaght in late June. In fact, since losing to Rovers in the Brandywell in May, Derry have won nine and drawn three of their last twelve home games. Rovers, too, haven’t tasted league defeat in over two months either. Their 2-0 away defeat against Dundalk, four days after beating Derry in June, was the last time Shamrock Rovers came away empty handed from a league game.

 

            Shamrock Rovers have beaten Derry twice in the league this season - a 2-0 win in the Brandywell in May and a 1-0 victory in Tallaght in June. City, however, defeated Rovers 2-0 in the President's Cup back in February, before beating them 2-1 in Dublin three weeks later. Rovers have won all but one of their last ten league visits to the Brandywell and won't back down from a fight on Friday.

            Both sides are full of confidence approaching the tie. Rovers have won three and drawn two of their last five league games, with their most recent victory coming in the form of a 3-0 Dublin Derby win over bitter rivals Bohemians. Derry City on the other hand, can boast four wins and a draw from their last five league fixtures. The Candystripes have been in fine goalscoring form in that time too, netting fifteen goals and conceding just four in league action. They’ll need to keep that prowess in front of goal up if they are to pip Friday’s opposition to the title. Rovers’ goal difference is currently +30, whereas City’s is +24. If City manage to win on Friday, that gulf in goal difference will decrease, but it will be a tall ask to overcome the highest scoring team in the division come November.

 

            The manner of Derry’s win against UCD meant that key players could be rested or brought off early. Michael Duffy and Jamie McGonigle were named on the bench but didn’t feature, whilst Patrick McEleney got the best part of thirty five minutes in the second half in order to increase his match fitness. Shane McEleney and Brandon Kavanagh started, whilst Sam Todd, Jordan McEneff and Cian Kavanagh saw over half an hour of action. A first team debut was also handed to 17 year old Callum McCay, who replaced Sadou Diallo on the 71^st minute.

 

            Worryingly, defensive trio Ronan Boyce, Cameron Dummigan and Mark Connolly were not included in the squad against UCD, meaning it is doubtful that they will be fit in time for Rovers’ visit on Friday. It’s coming up to a year since Ciaron Harkin devastatingly re-ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, but there is no sign of an imminent return unfortunately. The knee injury which kept Colm Whelan out of action for a year was reagitated in Shamrock Rovers’ last visit to the Brandywell in May, prematurely ending his season after a prosperous start to life in Derry. Hopefully it won’t be too far into 2024 before we see the striker in a red and white shirt again. Evan McLaughlin, who has been out of action for over five months, recently underwent surgery and will begin rehabilitation.

 

            Shamrock Rovers’ primary concern is the knee injury of star man Jack Byrne, who saw a specialist in London in August. He hasn’t featured since injuring his medial knee ligaments in Rovers’ Champions League qualifying defeat to Icelandic side Breidablik in mid-July, but is expected to return before the end of the season. Neil Farrugia, one of the league’s best full backs, returned from injury to score against Bohemians two weeks ago. Prior to that game, he hadn’t played since Rovers’ 1-0 win over Derry in late June. He played just ten minutes against Bohs, so may not start on Friday despite his impressive goal in the Dublin derby. Aaron Greene hasn’t been included in a Rovers’ squad since they drew with Shelbourne on August 11^th, whilst Sean Gannon hasn’t played since starting against Ferencváros a week previous.

 

            Stephen Bradley tends to set his Rovers team up with three centre backs and two, more attacking, wingbacks. Therefore, Shamrock Rovers most often play either a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-3 formation. With Dan Cleary, Roberto Lopes and Lee Grace all appearing in more than twenty league games this season – and Sean Hoare in eighteen – Bradley has a solid defensive core. The profiles of Trevor Clarke and Sean Kavanagh in left-back, and Neil Farrugia in particular at right back, shows that Bradley has a specific mould of forward-thinking full-back in mind when setting up his teams. Clarke has seven goal involvements, Farrugia five, and Kavanagh six this term, whilst Ronan Finn – who can play right back or in the midfield – has three. That means 21 of Rovers’ 54 league goals (38.9%) have been made by, or scored by, wide defenders. This is definitely something which Ruaidhrí Higgins will be aware of.

 

            In the midfield, Rovers have quality too. Markus Poom, on loan from Levadia Tallinn, has come into his own since the injury to Jack Byrne and has contributed to seven goals this term. Richie Towell, who scored in the Brandywell earlier this season, has six goal involvements. Gary O’Neill is a tough defensive midfielder, and Graham Burke has chipped in with thirteen goals or assists this term from the left flank. Jack Byrne will be a miss in the Rovers midfield if Friday is too soon for his return, as he scored in the Brandywell in April and has made eight assists this season. Liam Burt was excellent for Bohemians last year, but has scored just once since crossing the Dublin divide in the off-season. Galway native Rory Gaffney was named both the PFAI Players’ Player of the Year and the SSE Airtricity Player of the Year for the 2022 Premier Division season. The striker has chipped in with eight goals and five assists this term and offers a physical presence in the Rovers frontline. Ireland U21 forward Johnny Kenny, on-loan from Celtic, has seven goal involvements in 27 games, whilst Aaron Greene has five in thirteen.

    Friday's game is the biggest fixture of the season and is likely where the league will be won or lost. If Derry win and cut the gap to a point, they will fancy their chances in finishing the season strongly and only need Rovers to drop points once to overtake them should City keep winning. Shamrock Rovers, with a win, will go seven points clear and will need a serious drop-off in form to not win the league for the fourth year in a row. European games aside, this is City's biggest game since the FAI Cup final last year. The Candystripe faithful will need to replicate an atmosphere akin to that against KuPS in the Brandywell during the summer if Derry are to topple the champions. It's a big one. 

 

Pól O'Hare - 13 August 2023

           

 

           

UCD v Derry City: Match Preview

 UCD AFC v. Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 26, Belfield Bowl, Wednesday 6^TH September 2023, kick-off 7.45pm

 

            Derry City are back up to second place in the Premier Division table after an impressive 3-1 away win over Dundalk on Friday. A Will Patching brace, either side of a goal from Ben Doherty, saw the Candystripes overcome their Louth opposition despite having just 27.8% possession. Particular mention must be given to Brian Maher in the City goal, who made a string of phenomenal saves to keep his side firmly within the title race.

 

            Derry City capitalised on St Pat’s’ defeat to rivals Shelbourne to leapfrog the Inchicore side and heat up the race for the league title. Leaders Shamrock Rovers’ 3-0 win over Bohemians in the other Dublin Derby of the evening has seen them extend their lead at the top to 7 points, but Derry still have to face Rovers and have a game in hand. Shelbourne’s win saw them move into fifth place and above Dundalk, whilst the loss for Bohemians has given Derry a 3 point buffer over Bohs in fifth.

 

            Ruaidhrí Higgins made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 against Bohemians in Dalymount, handing a second Derry City debut to Sam Todd, who signed from UCD earlier in the summer. That was Todd’s first appearance this season following injury, and his first Derry City appearance since 2017 when he lined out against FC Midtjylland in a Europa League Qualifier. Shane McEleney partnered Todd in central defence, replacing Mark Connolly who came off injured against Bohs. Cameron McJannet started in left back and allowed Ben Doherty, who was preferred to Michael Duffy, license to play further forward. Patrick McEleney began in the midfield for the first time since early August, replacing Sadou Diallo.

 Due to the injury-hit City defence, no defenders were named on the bench. Ronan Boyce, Cameron Dummigan and Mark Connolly were not included in the team and it’ll be unlikely to see any of the three feature against UCD, unless it’s off the bench to gain a bit of match sharpness ahead of the game against Shamrock Rovers on the 15^th. Against UCD, I’d expect Ruaidhrí Higgins to rotate his squad in order to keep his preferred starting eleven sharp for the game against Rovers next week. Brandon Kavanagh, Jordan McEneff and Jamie McGonigle came off the bench against Dundalk, and will likely feature against UCD. Cian Kavanagh will also be hoping to play against The Students, as he hasn’t appeared for Derry since the game against Tobol Kostanay in Tallaght three weeks ago.

 

            UCD are rock-bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division and are playing for little more than pride before their relegation is confirmed. They have won just two games this season; against Sligo Rovers in June and at home to Cork City in May. They have, however, drawn against Shelbourne, Dundalk and Bohemians this season already, meaning Derry will have to be clinical if they are to win comfortably. With eight games to go, UCD are seventeen points behind Cork City in ninth place. Their FAI Cup hopes finished with a 5-1 home defeat to First Division leaders Galway United too. They lost 3-0 to Drogheda United on Friday, they haven’t won in five, and they haven’t kept a clean sheet in twenty games either – it’s not looking good for The Students.

 Derry, on the other hand, are in good form and need a win against UCD to be just four points behind Shamrock Rovers in first. It’s easier said than done but should City beat UCD and Rovers, they will be just one point behind top spot. Derry haven’t dropped points against UCD since July 2019, when the sides played out a 0-0 draw in the Brandywell. UCD have beaten Derry 16 times in 68 league outings, but Derry have won nine and drawn one since that last defeat in October 2014. This season, Derry have scored eight goals and conceded just once in their two games against UCD so far. Jamie McGonigle won’t forget playing UCD in 2022 – he scored a hat-trick in a 7-1 win in the Brandywell – and will be hoping to get in on the goals on Wednesday too. City play UCD at home on the 29^th of September and will hope to be even closer to the summit by then.
The Students’ main threat comes from 21 year old striker Danu Kinsella-Bishop, who is their top scorer with five this term. Ciaran Behan is also one to keep an eye on in attacking midfield; he’s scored twice and made three assists in 2023. Donegal native, and UCD captain, Jack Keaney has made 27 appearances this season. Winger Daniel Norris has made 26 appearances, whilst seven other players have made over twenty appearances. One such player will be familiar to Derry City fans – midfielder Brendan Barr left Derry City to join UCD prior to the start of the 2023 season after loan deals in the Irish League with Ballymena United and Dungannon Swifts. The 22 year old plays deeper for The Students than he did at Derry, usually featuring in defensive midfield. Manager Andrew Myler is open to changing his system but has played a 4-2-3-1 in UCD’s previous three games. They have also lined out in a 4-4-2 this term, along with playing 5 in the defensive at times.
The Derry City players will need to be clinical in front of goal if they are to win all three points against UCD on Wednesday. This match is Derry’s game in hand over the other title hopefuls, meaning that a win would be crucial in continuing their title push. UCD have shown that they can hold stronger teams to draws this season, something which Ruaidhrí Higgins will have warned his players of. City haven’t lost in Belfield since 2005 and have won their last eleven games away to UCD, conceding just thrice. Derry will hope to extend this record on Wednesday and come back up the road happy, knowing they have nine days to prepare for the crunch tie against Shamrock Rovers.

 

Pól O’Hare – 4th September 2023