Shelbourne 0 Derry City 1
Patrick McEleney’s second half goal was the difference at Tolka Park on Friday night as Derry City moved to the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table with a slender victory over Shelbourne.
Following scoreless draws for both sides in the top-flight on Monday evening, it looked set to be another stalemate for long stretches of a largely forgettable contest. Yet when the ball broke into McEleney’s path with 17 minutes remaining, he made no mistake to consign Damien Duff’s Metropolitans to a second successive home defeat.
Clear-cut opportunities were few and far between during the opening quarter, though Jamie McGonigle did find space close to the Shels goal on 21 minutes only for Lewis Webb to comfortably hold his tame effort.
Sean Boyd headed well over from a Conor Kane cross at the opposite end and while Jack Moylan was catching the eye with some surging runs forward, the former Bohemians prodigy was subsequently withdrawn through injury.
The Dubliners had grown into the game, but a diligent Derry defence ensured the deadlock remained unbroken at the interval.
The tempo of play lifted significantly on the resumption with both sets of players recognising that the three points were there for the taking. Derry full-back Daniel Lafferty had a header from a corner blocked before it could reach the target and Shels centre-forward Boyd had a firm strike off a sharp turn deflected just over the Candystripe crossbar.
The visitors looked the more threatening as the action wore on, however, and they were able to call upon Matty Smith off the bench just past the hour mark.
An FAI Cup winner with St Patrick’s Athletic in 2021, Smith played his part as Derry finally opened the scoring in the 73rd minute. After a Ronan Boyce header off the Scottish winger’s enticing left-wing delivery was only parried by Webb, McEleney was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range for his first goal since rejoining the club from Dundalk.
This threw down the gauntlet to Shels but, even though they applied considerable pressure in the dying moments of the proceedings, Derry held firm to take pole position in the Premier Division.
Shelbourne: Webb; O'Driscoll, Byrne, Ledwidge; Wilson, Coyle (Anaebonam, 61 mins), Dervin, Kane; Moylan (McEneff, 44 mins); McManus, Boyd (Farrell, 76 mins).
Derry City: Maher; Boyce (S McEleney 86 mins), Toal, McJannet, Lafferty; Dummigan, Patching; Kavanagh, Thomson (Smith 61 mins), P McEleney (Akintunde 76 mins); McGonigle.
Referee: R Matthews (Westmeath).
Drogheda 4 UCD2
Drogheda United hit four goals to mark their first victory of the Premier Division season as UCD proved easy pickings at a packed Head In The Game Park.
The visit of the Students is not one which would usually prompt a large crowd on Boyneside but the club offered free tickets to all as part of an initiative to bring as many supporters as possible to Friday night football fare.
Many will likely return after seeing six goals and a comprehensive home win against a UCD team managed by Drogheda legend Andy Myler. A brace from Chris Lyons followed Gary Deegan’s opener and Dean Williams added a deserved fourth after Sam Todd had given UCD a flicker of hope.
That was extinguished quickly but Drogheda were in control throughout and a comeback wasn’t likely.
Deegan’s fine opener set the tone for United. That was the well-travelled midfielder’s first goal for the club. Chris Lyons’ stunning second was the game’s standout moment. He turned Eric Yoro and unleashed a fierce effort from 18 yards out that beat Lorcan Healy.
His second was a simpler finish from close range and although Todd met a corner to reduce the deficit, Williams fired in a Darragh Markey cross to end hopes of an upset soon after. A mistake from Drogheda goalkeeper Colin McCabe allowed Liam Kerrigan to volley into an empty net late on.
Kevin Doherty’s first win as United boss sets them up for the visit of Sligo Rovers to United Park next week. UCD are winless after the opening four rounds of competition.
Drogheda United: McCabe; Roughan (Cowan 74 mins), Hughes, Massey; Poynton, Deegan, Clarke (Nugent 63 mins), Weir; Markey (Rooney 76 mins); Williams, Lyons.
UCD: Healy; Osam, Yoro, Todd, Ryan; Keaney, Verdon (Norris 46 mins); Kerrigan, Caffrey (Lennon 76 mins), Duffy (Higgins 46 mins); Whelan.
Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan.
Finn Harps 1 Bohemian 1
Ryan Connolly’s stunning 66th minute goal earned Finn Harps a point against Bohemians in a rip-roaring contest in Ballybofey.
This was a great season opener for the Finn Park faithful and the game could have gone either way.
Bohs had more of the possession in the early stages of a first half played at a decent pace, but Harps grew into the game with new striker Filip Mihaljevic looking lively.
Referee Damien McGraith became the the spotlight of attention midway through the half as he brandished seven yellow cards, one of them being issued to Harps assistant manager Gavin Dykes.
Keith Long’s side began the second half on the front foot and their pressure reaped dividends on 52 minutes. Dawson Devoy pumped a ball into the box and Harps failed to clear, allowing Promise Omochere to take it town and fire past McGinley for his second goal of the season.
Filip Mihaljevic was put through by Yoyo Mahdy but James Talbot advanced to make a key intervention.
However, spurred on by this, Harps equalised on 66 minutes with Ryan Connolly being played into the box by Bastien Hery and he then let fly with super finish into the top corner of the net.
Shortly afterwards Omochere smacked a shot off the Harps crossbar with both teams going flat out for the winner.
Omochere twice went close for Bohs before being sent off for a second yellow card offence late on.
Finn Harps: McGinley; Rainey, Boyle, Webster, Carillo (Slevin 42 mins); Hery (Rudden 82 mins), Nzeyi, Connolly, McNamee; Mihaljevic, Mahdy (McWoods 74 mins).
Bohemians: Talbot; Feely, Horton, Finnerty (Kelly 40 mins), Murphy; Devoy, Flores, Doherty; Coote (Mallon 78 mins), Twardek; Omochere.
Referee: D McGraith
