Dundalk v Derry City:
Match Preview
Dundalk FC v. Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier
Division, Round 34, Oriel Park, Friday 18th October 2024, kick-off
7.45pm
Derry City could have been top of the table with a win and a
draw against Bohemians and Sligo Rovers last weekend. Instead, the Candystripes’
anticlimactic duo of back-to-back draws sees them second in the league, two
points off top spot with three games to go. With the toughest run in of the top
three, City must win their remaining three games to be in with a chance of glory.
First up is a tough trip to relegation doomed Dundalk on Friday, who know that
their First Division fate could be confirmed should they lose to Derry City.
This is make or break at both ends of the table.
(Second) Last time out – Derry City 1-1 Bohemians:
After a 2-0 win over Bohemians in the FAI Cup semi-final a
week earlier for Derry City, it was always going to be difficult to beat the
same team twice on the bounce. Much like that match in Dalymount, Friday night
was something of a game of two halves. With new £1m Celtic signing Luke McCowan
in attendance, alongside senior internationals in the form of Norwich and
Ireland defender Shane Duffy, and Hearts and Scotland striker Lawrence
Shankland, Bohemians started the better side. They kept hold of the ball well and
frustrated Derry, as they did in the first half a week prior. Centre back Jevon
Mills seemed to find himself with time on the ball as Derry allowed the away
side to pass it between their defenders. Dayle Rooney’s powerful effort from
distance was the first major action of the game after just three minutes,
stinging the fingers of Brian Maher who parried it over his crossbar. Before
the ten minute mark though, Derry City nearly had the breakthrough. Michael
Duffy, scorer of both goals a week prior, bent a free kick over the Bohs well
and onto Kacper Chorazka’s crossbar. So close to two free wonderful free kicks
in two weeks for City’s number seven. Three minutes after that and Derry really
should have scored. A well worked move saw Hoban receive the ball before
feeding it through to Michael Duffy, storming into the box. Duffy’s pulled ball
back into the area got stuck under the feet of Paul McMullan who eventually saw
his stabbed effort cleared off the line by Jordan Flores. A big scare for the
away side and two missed opportunities in quick succession for the
Candystripes.
By the twenty minute mark, Alan Reynolds’ men had taken the
lead. Neat interchange between Paddy Kirk and James Clarke saw Dayle Rooney
receive it on the far left touchline. The winger’s ball right across the face
of goal was met by Scottish midfielder Archie Meekison at the back post, who
duly clipped it over Maher and into the back of the net. It was a deserved goal
for the away side, who were mounting pressure in the Derry half. Within a
minute of the restart, Will Patching found himself in behind the Bohs defence -
his effort was comfortably saved by the Polish shot-stopper. Derry’s last
opportunity of the half came via a whipped Ben Doherty cross six minutes from
time, which would have been converted by Pat Hoban had it not been for the toe
of a stretching Jevon Mills to poke it behind.
It was the home side’s turn to go up a gear and turn up the
pressure on Bohemians after the restart. Less than ten minutes in and Ben
Doherty ,who had been fantastic in Dalymount a week prior, pulled up when
trying to burst down the left flank. It didn’t look good for the 27 year old,
who looked to be in real pain and was replaced by Danny Mullen. Just minutes
later and the Candystripes were lucky to keep eleven men on the pitch when
Andre Wisdom pulled back Dayle Rooney after having his pocket picked by the
former Drogheda United man. Rooney would have been one on one with Brian Maher
had Wisdom not fouled him – the former Liverpool and Derby County man coming
away with a yellow card, but it was a necessary foul that prevented a likely
goal.
Two minutes later and Derry City had equalised. An
out-swinging Michael Duffy corner was met expertly by Pat Hoban just twenty
seconds after the hour mark, who powered past Chorazka and into the top corner.
The Candystripes were now in the ascendancy and searching for a winner. That
could, and should, have come on the 76th minute when Michael Duffy’s
fantastic trivela pass from his own half fed Danny Mullen in behind the
Bohemians defence. Mullen squared it across the box and into the path of Paul
McMullan who had an empty net to convert into. The winger’s side footed effort
from inside the six yard box came crashing off the post. A major let off for
Bohemians, and a major miss for Derry City. The Scotsman should have had a
brace at this point. Substitute Sean Robertson had another golden opportunity
to win it for Derry in injury time when he won it from Paddy Kirk deep in Bohs
territory. He could have put his foot through it when he got into the box,
especially after feinting past Jake Carroll, but took one touch too many and
saw the ball swarmed away by the Bohs defenders. It finished 1-1, making it one
win in eight in the league for the Candystripes. At this point, a win on Monday
over Sligo would still put City top of the league but it really felt like two
points dropped rather than one gained.
Last time out – Derry City 1-1 Sligo Rovers:
In true DCFC fashion, that win on Monday night never came. Sligo
Rovers, a bogey of team of late for the Candystripes, hadn’t lost to City in a
year and a half. Knowing that three points for them would take them just a
point behind Derry, Sligo fielded an energetic team and set out with a gameplan
right from the off. Within the first fifteen minutes, City had shouts for a
penalty when Boyce fell to ground in the box after feeling a push as he was
shaping to shoot. Little attention was paid to the penalty calls by the referee,
who waived away City protests. After a relatively flat first half hour or so,
Oli Denham dispossessed Patrick Hoban who took a heavy touch on the halfway
line. The ball was sprayed out to the flank by Arsenal loanee Jack Henry-Francis,
allowing Luke Pierce space to cross into the box. Andre Wisdom got his head to
it before some pinballing on the edge of the box saw the ball sit perfectly for
Englishman Conor Malley, who took one touch before volleying past Maher from
range. A spectacular opening to the score, but a sucker-punch from Derry’s
point of view. Another few minutes later and Pat Hoban, who seemed to be
clutching his hamstring after leaping for a header, was replaced by Danny
Mullen. Two blows for Ruaidhrí Higgins, whose side found themselves without
their top scorer and a goal down going into half time.
Despite the introductions of Patrick McEleney, Jacob
Davenport and Collie Whelan at half time, it was the away team who came out fighting.
Within a minute and a half of the restart, Will Fitzgerald smashed the ball
into the side-netting after some interplay with Simon Power. An early close
call for City in the second phase. Oli Denham’s skied effort from a volley inside
the box just three minutes later showed that Sligo weren’t for slowing down. To
the surprise of many in the Brandywell, City found themselves level on the 53rd
minute. Collie Whelan knocked the ball forward to Danny Mullen, who played
fellow Scot Paul McMullan down the wing on the counter attack. McMullan’s
dangerous ball in was sliced by left back Reece Hutchinson, looping over Ed McGinty
and into the back of the net. Luck, for once, on Derry’s side who now needed
one goal to go top of the table.
Momentum was now with the Candystripes, who had a spring in
their step for the first time in the game. Just before the hour mark, Collie
Whelan tested McGinty with a low-shot on the turn – dealt with comfortably by
the Oxford United loanee. Sligo Rovers had the next big opportunity, and it was
one which they should have been scoring. After picking out Fitzgerald down the
flank, Ellis Chapman made way into the box and, inside the six yard box with
just Brian Maher to aim past, the Englishman misplaced his effort wide. A big
scare for the Candystripes at the hands of Rovers’ two dangermen. Paul McMullan’s
mazy run on the 69th minute came to no avail for Derry as he shot straight
at McGinty, before the away side saw themselves reduced to ten five minutes
later. Luke Pearce, already on a yellow,
penalised for colliding with Brian Maher in the box. This came just after Ellis
Chapman went down off the ball. The Sligo talisman jarred his knee in the turf
and was eventually stretchered off after minutes of treatment, it didn’t look good
for the Englishman. Despite the ten men of the away side, City only had one golden
opportunity in the remainder of the game. After Colm Whelan’s near post header
was well saved by the Sligo shot-stopper, a deep Michael Duffy ball found Sean
Robertson at the back post. The winger, who had the goal at his mercy, fired over
the crossbar deep into additional time. Too little. too late for Derry City, whose
missed opportunities in front of goal against both Bohemians and Sligo Rovers
cost them precious points in the title race.
Derry City:
For all their opportunities against Bohemians on Friday,
Derry City came away with just one point and one goal. That goal put Pat Hoban
two clear at the top of the goal-scoring chart in the Premier Division, but the
misses of McMullan and Robertson should really have been converted into more
than one goal for City. Michael Duffy, Ronan Boyce and Sadou Diallo in
particular were great once the game got going on Friday. Duffy was lively down
the left, smothered by at least two men at all times, preventing him from
cutting inside. That free kick just ten minutes in came painfully close to
opening the score, and bagging the 30 year old his fourth against Bohs this
year. Will Patching’s effort just minutes after the visitor’s goal was another
golden opportunity, whilst Paul McMullan’s duo of misses probably would have
swung the game in the favour of the Brandywell side. On another night, City
could have scored three or four, but it wasn’t to be on Friday. The injury to
Ben Doherty will lose City some attacking flair down the left flank, although
Sean Robertson looked dangerous after replacing Paul McMullan.
Knowing that a win on Monday would have put them top of the
league, Derry City failed to capitalise on either of their games in hand over
the weekend. The draw on Monday meant that City have now won just once in the
league since mid-June and picked up two points out of a possible six over the
weekend – when four could’ve put us top. Derry are now second, level on points
with Shamrock Rovers and two behind Shelbourne. While that doesn’t sound awful,
we now need a side who have one league win in their last nine to win their last
three to reach maximum points. That includes away games against Dundalk and St.
Pat’s, a side literally fighting for their survival and a club who have six
wins on the bounce. The last game, at the Brandywell against Shelbourne, seemed
that it would be the title decider for months. Now though, the trophy may not
be lifted by either side in Derry on the 1st of November. It’s a
tough ask for even the most optimistic Derry City supporter to keep the belief
for a title win – we’re now hoping for a miracle and a few favours from
Drogheda United against Shels and Rovers to stay in it. It’s the hope that
kills you, but it’s not all said and done just yet.
Derry City are without Pat Hoban, possibly for the remainder
of the season, after his injury on Friday night. It didn’t look good for the league’s
top scorer, who will be hoping neither Johnny Kenny or Pádraig Amond top his 14
goal haul this campaign as he hunts for the golden boot. Cameron Dummigan has
been a big miss recently, whilst Will Patching doesn’t seem to be 100% fit.
Mark Connolly struggled towards the end on Monday night too. On the other hand,
Colm Whelan had his best game since coming back from injury earlier in the summer.
He got involved playing deeper than usual, coming close on two occasions. Michael
Duffy and Patrick McEleney didn’t stop running, but it was disappointing to see
a few heads drop after conceding. Ruaidhrí Higgins will be hoping for his
senior players to pull the rest of the squad through the next few games to have
any hope of maintaining this title push alive. Fail to win on Friday and we’ll
be in a scrap to get Europe let alone the title this year.
Dundalk:
After winning the League of Ireland Premier Division five
times between 2014 and 2019, and reaching UEFA Europa League group stages in
2016 and 2020, Dundalk found themselves hours away from extinction in
September. Brian Ainscough, the Irish-American businessman who funded Kerry FC
before taking control of Dundalk in late 2023, revealed that the club had
amassed losses of €1.2m and could struggle to make it to the end of the season.
With players and staff seeing wages unpaid, and lingering rock bottom of the
Premier Division table, Dundalk were in a dire state. The death of club
stalwart Mark ‘Maxi’ Kavanagh made a tough year even harder for the Lilywhite
faithful. It was lovely to see fans from clubs all over Ireland coming to
attend his funeral recently, showing how much of a character he was.
It’s at the stage now where, if Dundalk fail to beat Derry
City on Friday and Drogheda United beat Shamrock Rovers, the Lilywhites will be
relegated. It’ll hurt even more knowing that seven current Derry players used
to play for Dundalk, as did manager Ruaidhrí Higgins. Pat Hoban is the club’s
record goal-scorer and could’ve played a part in relegating them on Friday had
it not been for the recent injury.
Despite being taken over by a consortium led by John Temple,
a Dundalk native, the club’s issues are far from solved. It’s been recently
revealed that the 1903 Supporters Club will fund Dundalk’s academy teams,
allowing Temple to cover first team costs. Despite the turmoil though, the
players haven’t thrown in the towel just yet. Eoin Kenny’s stoppage time
equaliser against Galway United salvaged a point against a team who would’ve
gone second with a win. Despite winning just five league games in 2024, and
crashing out of the FAI Cup at the first attempt, two of those wins did come in
the derby over Drogheda United and away to St. Pat’s. Home wins over Shamrock
Rovers, Bohemians and Sligo Rovers show that they still have it in them to get one
over teams in big games. Two home ties over Derry City and Shamrock Rovers,
before making the short journey south to Drogheda United on the final day, mark
a difficult trio of games for Jon Daly’s men. Whilst their relegation is all
but confirmed, Derry City can’t take them for granted – as was shown earlier in
the season with 0-0 and 1-1 draws played out between the sides.
Dundalk haven’t won in any competition since the 12th
of July, when they beat their Louth neighbours Drogheda United 4-2 in Oriel
Park. It’s been seven losses and three draws in the ten games since then. They
mathematically can’t avoid the relegation zone this season. At best for
Dundalk, they’d hope for huge wins over Derry and Shamrock Rovers, alongside a
Drogheda capitulation. That’d put them on 31 points going into the final day,
two behind Drogheda even if Kevin Doherty’s men lose to Rovers and Shelbourne
in their next two. It just so happens that Dundalk and Drogheda face each other
on the final day. The Lilywhites’ 23 goals scored is the lowest in the league,
but they’ve conceded eight less than Drogs in ninth.
Veteran winger Daryl Horgan, who signed a two-year contract
extension earlier in the season, has been Dundalk’s best player this campaign.
A club legend appearing nearly 100 times for the club between 2014 and 2016,
including receiving a Republic of Ireland call-up, Horgan has four goals and
four assists this term. Those eight goal contributions mark 33% of Dundalk’s
entire goal tally in 2024. Jamie Gullan, the Scottish forward who’s wicked from
free kicks, is their top scorer with six goals, but he has bagged just once
since June. His free kick wondergoal in Tallaght on the opening day of the
campaign is worth watching again. Ryan O’Kane is a young winger with bags of
potential, he scored Dundalk’s only goal in the 4-1 loss in the Brandywell in
April. Fellow wide man Sam Durrant joined Dundalk from Sheffield Wednesday in
August 2023 and has two caps for the Sri Lankan national team. He wears number
10 for Sri Lanka and qualifies to play for them through his mother.
Midfield duo Jad Hakiki and Aodh Dervin were two astute
signings in the summer window, coming in from Shelbourne and Galway United
respectively. The latter saw himself in bother with Galway manager John
Caulfield last time out when Caulfield refused to shake Dervin’s hand after the
match following his tackle on left-back Greg Cunningham, which has ruled the veteran
defender out for the season. 32 year old midfielder Robbie Benson still plays
with the passion he did when he first joined the Lilywhites from UCD eight
years ago – he has five goal involvements this term. Scottish goalkeeper Ross
Munro has had a rocky start to life in Louth, with some high profile errors
costing his side. Meanwhile, veteran defenders Andy Boyle and John Mountney are
still going strong for Dundalk well into their 30s.
Round-up:
Dundalk haven’t beaten Derry City since the last day of the
2022 season, when former City midfielder Keith Ward struck a sweet volley into
the bottom corner, ensuring that his side finished the campaign level on points
with the Candystripes. Derry finished second that year, with Dundalk third – no
one would have seen them stricken in tenth two years later. Two draws from the
previous three encounters between these two in 2024 will give the Lilywhites
hope for a point on Friday. In the same vein, going to a relegation scrapping
side three games out from the end of the season is not somewhere you want to go
when you need wins to maintain a title push. Ruaidhrí Higgins and his men found
that out the hard way three weeks ago when losing 2-1 away to Drogheda United. City
beat Dundalk 4-1 in the Brandywell back in April and you can cast your mind
back to the last game of the 2021 season when City travelled to Dundalk for an
end of season crunch tie. Goals from Jamie McGonigle and Ciaron Harkin saw City
pick up their first win in Oriel since 2013 that night and ensured that European
football returned Derry for 2022 (via at St. Pat’s cup win). Wins for Drogheda
in their next two (Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne) would do Derry massive favours
but relegate Dundalk. A lot of the Derry squad will have fond memories of
Dundalk after spending parts of their career there, but City are still just
about in the hunt for a first title since 1997 and can’t afford to be dropping
points at this stage of the season. With just two games left after this one,
it’s a must win for both teams down in Oriel Park.
Pól O’Hare – 16th October 2024
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