League Report: Derry City 2 - 0 Sligo Rovers

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Home side keep up fight in race for Europe 

A goal in each half from Jamie McGonigle kept alive Derry’s faint hopes of European qualification for next season.

Sligo had plenty of the ball but failed to find the necessary breakthrough. Their route to Europe has already been secured but will be disappointed to have lost out on finishing second.

Derry were forced into two changes from the draw with Finn Harps. Cameron McJannett failed to shake off the injury he suffered in that game while Bastien Hery was on World Cup duty with Madagascar.

Sligo also needed to switch their line-up from the victory against St. Pats. Johnny Kenny was involved with the Ireland Under-19’s and had injuries and illness to Greg Bolger and McGinity. Niall Morahan, Walter Figueira and Richard Brush all started in their place.

Both sides started in their away colours, but it was the home side who begun the brighter. Twice in the opening minutes they set out on the attack which broke down on both occasions. Sligo then had a go, but Robbie McCourt shot wide after good build-up work before that. They were starting to dictate matters at this point.

It was Derry who went in front though. Joe Thompson had been named as supporters player of the season and it was his cross who found Jamie McGonigle. His left-foot volley flashed past Ricard Brush in the Sligo net. Moments later Ronan Boyce found himself one-on-one with the netminder. He was only able to lift it over the bar though.

Sligo woke themselves to exert a level of control and Nathan Gartside was forced into a number of important saves. Mark Byrne was the first to be denied and then Gary Buckley was left cursing his luck when his flicked header was flicked away. Adam McDonnell was then stopped after Walter Figueira’s cross was blocked.

Derry almost netted a second just on half-time. The Sligo back-line were left looking for an offside that never came. McGonigle seized on the ball to chip over Brush. It was just about cleared off the line by Lewis Banks and Sligo got it away.

The second-half took a while to get going as both sides struggled to keep the ball for long. A certain tension was evident whenever the ball came into either area. Brush was relieved to see his attempted punch cleared off the line from a McGonigle effort. The subsequent corner was also hacked clear to stop Derry going further in front.

McGonigle would not be stopped for long. Will Fitzgerald did well down the line before putting a decent cross into the area. Buckley scuffed his clearance into the path of the Derry striker who planted another volley into the net. His goal form in recent weeks has been a bright spot.

Sligo were seeing plenty of the ball, but just running out of ideas as the half wore on. Derry saw the potential prize on offer and resisted any hopes of them getting back into the game. Figueira did have a long-range chance from outside the area which went just wide. 

Joy for the capacity crowd upon the final whistle. Their opponents might yet have a key role to play in the race for Europe when they take on Bohemians in their last game. Derry City will take on Dundalk. All games are kicking off at 7.45pm on Friday night.    

Derry City: Nathan Gartside; Ciaran Coll, Ronan Boyce, Daniel Lafferty, Eoin Toal (c); Ciaron Harkin, Jamie McGonigle, Joe Thomson; William Fitzgerald (Evan McLaughlin 87), James Akintunde (Jack Malone 76), Junior.
Subs not used: Jack Lemoignan, Mark McChrystal, Darren Cole, Caoimhin Porter, Michael Harris, Patrick Ferry, Gerard Storey.
Booked: James Akintunde (45), Joe Thomson (80).
Sent off: None.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Lewis Banks, John Mahon, Robbie McCourt (Regan Donelon 32); Mark Byrne, Garry Buckley, Adam McDonnell (Seamas Keogh 59), Niall Morahan; Walter Figueira , Ryan De Vries (Cillian Heaney 84), Andre Wright (Romeo Parkes 59).
Subs not used: Scott Lynch, Colm Horgan, Peter Maguire, Melvyn Lorenzen, Darren Collins.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None.

Referee: Derek Tomney
Attendance: 7,000
extratime.com Player of the Match: Jamie McGonigle