Derry City v Dundalk: Match Preview
Derry City FC v. Dundalk FC, League of Ireland Premier
Division, Round 27, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 9th
August 2024, kick-off 7.45pm
It’s as you were at the top of the Premier Division after a
somewhat anti-climactic Monday night fixture against Shelbourne in Tolka Park. Derry
City fought on for more than an hour following Sam Todd’s second yellow card in
the first half to claim a hard-earned point, but had the better opportunities
and would have felt hard done by not going back up the road with three points.
They face Dundalk on Friday, a side who find themselves sitting just two points
from bottom of the table. A win for the Candystripes would put them top for at
least 22 hours until Shelbourne travel to in-form Sligo Rovers on Saturday
evening.
Last time out – Shelbourne 0-0 Derry City:
Much was made of Monday night’s top of the table clash.
Billed by Shels gaffer Damien Duff as the ‘biggest night Tolka Park’s seen in
18 years’, the game didn’t quite live up to expectations. The home side set up
with an alternate backline following the suspensions of Paddy Barrett and
Tyreke Wilson, whilst Derry City welcomed Ronan Boyce and Jordan McEneff back
to the bench following injury setbacks.
Derry started the game the better side, with Michael Duffy
coming closest within the early exchanges as he volleyed Pat Hoban’s header
straight at Kearns in the Shels goal from twelve yards out. Duffy again came
close just minutes later, firing a left-footed effort wide after beating
Shelbourne right-back Sean Gannon for pace. Disaster struck for Ruaidhrí
Higgins’ men after 34 minutes however, when Sam Todd, starting just his fourth
league game of the season, brought Scottish winger Liam Burt to the ground. The
contact was minimal but Todd, walking a tight-rope after an earlier yellow
card, was shown his marching orders. It was an uphill battle for the
Candystripes, who could have gone into half-time two or three to the good after
Michael Duffy failed to capitalise on a loose ball from Conor Kearns late in
the half.
The home side picked up the pace and tested Brian Maher more
in the second period. The best effort of the half coming when Harry Wood found
space on the edge of the box but saw his bouncing shot saved by the City
keeper. Ali Coote, brought off the bench with just fifteen to go, came close
for the home side when his shot across the face of goal took a deflection off
Ben Doherty and went narrowly wide. City sat in deep and defended well in their
low block, utilising the pace of substitute Dan Kelly on the counter attack.
The 27 year old had a golden opportunity of his own when Brian Maher’s driven
ball was placed perfectly for Kelly running in behind, before being smothered
by Kearns in the Shelbourne goal.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of the second half came in
the form of more referee-related drama. After booking striker John Martin for a
lunge on Will Patching earlier in the half, the forward’s late challenge on
Paul McMullan was waved away by Damien MacGraith. If Sam Todd’s tackle in the
first half was worthy of a yellow, so too was Martin’s. The Shelbourne coaching
staff knew that too, replacing the striker with former Derry man Matty Smith a
minute later. All-in-all, a draw and clean sheet against the league leaders
isn’t a bad result by any stretch of the imagination. The City faithful can
only hope that the opportunities in the first half, coupled with the red card
setback, don’t come back to bite us come November.
Derry City:
The Candystripes dug in deep against Shelbourne on Monday
night, showing a side to the team that has been questioned in recent times. The
attacking play was crisp throughout but when the going got tough, the defensive
solidity of the Derry midfield and backline was superb. Shelbourne, who have a
multitude of creative midfielders and wingers, failed to really carve out any
clear goal scoring opportunities, and were penned back for most of the second
half. Mark Connolly was commanding at the back whilst Cameron Dummigan was
worthy of his man of the match award. The Lurgan native adapted well in
shifting to right back following the red card after starting the game in
midfield. Ciaran Coll was once again solid, whilst Adam O’Reilly’s energy drove
Derry forward. Pat Hoban and Michael Duffy combined well, with the latter
unlucky not to bag at least one. Dan Kelly troubled the left side of the Shels
defence after his second half introduction.
Ruaidhrí Higgins will have been pleased to see the returns
of Ronan Boyce and Jordan McEneff to the matchday squad. Boyce hasn’t started
for Derry since the 2-2 draw with Sligo Rovers in late May as Cameron Dummigan
nailed down the right back spot. Seven or so minutes at the end of the 5-1 win
over Drogheda at the end of June is the only football the 23 year old has seen
since coming as a substitute against Galway United earlier in the month. Jordan
McEneff faced a longer set back after breaking a bone in his foot in April and
returned to the squad for the first time in almost four months on Monday night.
His energy and versatility across the midfield and wide areas, which saw him
contribute to 9 goals last season, could give City another dynamic in the title
race. Jacob Davenport is still waiting for his first appearance in a Derry
shirt. The English midfielder is Derry’s only summer signing and hasn’t played
since a 3-3 draw against Swindon Town for Morecambe in League Two in late
April. He could see his first minutes against Dundalk on Friday.
Dundalk:
League winners as recently as 2019, and in Europa League
group stages in 2020, Dundalk’s demise has come as a warning to clubs on what
not to do when you come across money and success. Probably the best League of
Ireland side of the past ten years, Dundalk have found themselves in a
relegation scrap with Louth neighbours Drogheda United this season. In losing
all-time leading goal-scorer Pat Hoban to Derry City in the off-season, the
Lilywhites’ issues off the pitch began to reflect on it. Sixteen players in the
current Dundalk squad weren’t with the club last season and that seismic shift
in personnel has had its impact.
Dundalk sit ninth in the table, losing 13 and drawing 8 of
their 26 games. Of their five wins this term, only one has come away from home
but victories over Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers show that the Lilywhites do
have it in them to beat sides putting pressure on the top of the table. The
loss of Pat Hoban in particular seems to have hit the Lilywhites where it
hurts. They have scored just 18 goals this season, the lowest in the division.
Hoban has contributed to 15 in the league alone this term. The 36 goals that
Dundalk have conceded is also more than everyone aside from Drogheda in tenth.
It’s a tough time to be a fan of the Oriel Park side to say the least.
Top scorer for Dundalk this term is Jamie Gullan, the 25
year old Scotsman who was signed from Raith Rovers. A dead ball specialist,
Gullan opened his account on the opening day of the season with a stunning free
kick in Tallaght, though he hasn’t bagged since scoring a brace against St.
Pat’s in early June. Daryl Horgan, a former Republic of Ireland international,
is always a threat whether playing in the centre or on the wing. He has scored
four and assisted three this term, making him Dundalk’s most efficient
attacking outlet. 32 on Saturday, Horgan made 17 senior international
appearances between 2017 and 2021. Another former Ireland international in the
Lilywhites ranks is veteran defender Andy Boyle, who picked up a single senior
cap in 2017 when with Preston North End. The 33 year old is still a quality
operator at this level and has helped keep six clean sheets this term.
Two impressive summer arrivals are Jad Hakiki and Aodh
Dervin, signed from Shelbourne and Galway United. Both central midfielders,
Hakiki’s energy and composure at 20 years old has offered the Lilywhites versatility
in the midfield. Aodh Dervin scored the winner against Dundalk for Galway
United earlier in the year and is a real coup in the midfield. A tough and
hard-working midfielder, the 25 year old would be a good option in most Premier
Division squads. 20 year old New Zealander Norman Garbett, brother of Matthew
Garbett who scored the equaliser for his country against Ireland last year, is
another intriguing addition. He was signed from Serie C signed Potenza in July
and has featured twice this campaign. Felix Goddard was brought in on loan from
Blackburn Rovers to add depth in the goalkeeping department but has struggled,
conceding seven in four games.
The Louth side are winless in three domestically and have
been knocked out of the FAI Cup by rivals Drogheda United. With ten games to
go, and sitting only two points above the automatic relegation spot, the
Lilywhites will need to string some wins together to improve their season. They
play Drogheda United on the last day of the season, meaning the league winners
and bottom finishing side may both not know their fate until the final day of
the campaign. Derry City, who face Dundalk in Oriel Park in the third last game
of the season, will be wary that their opponents will be going all out to claim
some wins.
Round-up:
Failing to beat Shelbourne on Monday night may seem as
opportunity missed. The Candystripes could have gone top with a win in Tolka,
but the title race is far from done and dusted yet. City face a Dundalk side
who haven’t beaten them in nearly two years and sit second from bottom in the
division. The Lilywhites have conceded twelve in the last five games between
this two, with Derry beating Dundalk 4-1 in the Brandywell earlier this term.
The 0-0 draw in Oriel Park in the most recent meeting between the two was just
the third scoreless draw between City and Dundalk since 2017. A win on Friday
night would guarantee that Derry spend more than about fifteen minutes at the
top of the table for the first time since early March, as Shelbourne don’t play
until Saturday. They’re travelling to Sligo Rovers, who have won five of their
last seven domestic games and sit level on points with Shamrock Rovers in
third. The Bit’O’Red could do us a favour on Saturday, as a loss for Shelbourne
would eliminate their three point advantage should City triumph against
Dundalk. We’re down to the last ten games of the league season and it’s shaping
up to be the best title race in years…
Pól O’Hare – 7th August 2024
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