League Report: Derry City 0 - 0 UCD

Odhrán Crumley reports from the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

It was a case of two points dropped for Derry City as they failed to breakdown a resurgent UCD side at the Brandywell.

Dour, bleak and, at times, tedious are words that can be used to describe a game in which the home team spurned chance after chance.

There was ten minutes on the clock before the ball left the middle third for a sustained period of time.

David Parkhouse raced in behind, smashing his effort at Conor Kearns from inside the area when it looked easier to score.

Parkhouse would be in the thick of the action soon after, Darren McCauley heading a UCD restart into this path.

The big striker raced towards the left corner before invitingly sending the ball across the face of goal.

Jamie McDonagh was the recipient and intended target at the back-post but, he could only watch in anguish as his effort sailed over the crossbar.

For all the Derry dominance, the Students could have taken the lead midway through the half.

Jack Keaney clipping the roof of the net with the 25-yard free kick that left Peter Cherrie rooted to the spot.

Parkhouse has been the focal point of the Derry attack all season, none more so than tonight.

The Candystripes played ball around the edge of the area for what seemed like an age.

McDonagh and Parkhouse combined for the culmination of the attack with the latter heading over from eight yards out.

In the words of Liam Gallagher, it was ‘as you were’ at the break, with neither side able to break the deadlock.

Lashing rain was the only thing to break the monotony as the early exchanges of the second stanza blended into their tiresome counterparts of the opening half.

With every passing minute it appeared that it would be one of those nights for the home team.

McDonagh send yet another inviting ball in from the right, this time it was substitute, Aidy Delap that fluffed his lines and the opportunity was gone.

Declan Devine’s charges continued to pepper the opposition goal, McDonagh beating his man on the right his shot was saved onto the post and then crossbar by Kearns, anguish for the home supporters.

Desperate groans began to seep into the home support before cheers of encouragement in the final ten minutes as Parkhouse headed into the keepers hands, just after Delap ran out of pitch on a marauding run.

Parkhouse would send the ball across the face of goal as the game entered five minutes of additional time.

Gilchrist, Delap and McDonagh all let the moment pass with a glare of hesitation when a touch in the right direction would have sent the ball into the net.

The missed chances began to grow comedic in injury time as Ciaran Coll’s cross was met by the head of Delap, only to skew past the left post and out of bounds.

Visible frustration fell throughout the stands of the Lonemoor Road venue Gerardo Bruna showed absolute tekkers to pick out McDonagh on the right for the 7,000^th time.

The winger cut into the area but his shot come cross ran harmlessly out of play. UCD held ranks and held on for an invaluable point, frustrating the life out of their counterparts.

Derry City: Peter Cherrie; Darren Cole, Ciaran Coll, Ally Gilchrist, Eoin Toal; Ciaron Harkin (Eoghan Stokes, 74), Darren McCauley (Aidy Delap, 60), Jamie McDonagh, Greg Sloggett, Gerardo Bruna; David Parkhouse. 

Subs not used: Nathan Gartside (gk), Jack Malone, Mark McChrystal, Evan Tweed, Shane McNamee.

Booked: Darren Cole (79).

UCD: Conor Kearns; Dan Tobin, Harry McEvoy, Yousef Mahdy, Evan Farrell, Mark Dignam; Richie O'Farrell, Jack Keaney, Paul Doyle, Jason McClelland; Danu Kinsella Bishop (Dara Keane, 64). 

Subs not used: Tom Murphy (gk), Jack Ryan, Tom Murphy, Dan Mullen, Aaron McGrath, Luke Boore. 

Booked: Paul Doyle (89), Conor Kearns (90+3).

Referee: Jason McLoughlin.

Attendance: 1,500 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match:Conor Kearns (UCD).