League Report: Derry City 0-0 Sligo Rovers

• Dónal Ryan
• Mon, Feb 28 2022




Derry City and Sligo Rovers played out a scoreless draw in the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Monday night.

In what turned out to be a rather tame affair, with few chances coming particularly in the second half, it is Sligo that will be the happier with the point as they nullified Derry for large parts of the game.

The Candystripes came flying out of the traps, as they laid siege on the Rovers goal in the opening minutes. An intricate move down the right wing in the eighth minute between Jamie McGonigle and Patrick McEleney saw the ball work its way to Brandon Kavanagh. His shot looked destined for the top corner, but a fine save from Ed McGinty kept the score at 0-0.



Just a minute later, Derry came knocking at the door again. Will Patching released McGonigle with a fine ball over the top, and although he took it down well in the box, his shot crashed back off the crossbar and into the arms of a relieved McGinty.

Derry dominated possession and had a shout for a penalty in the 28^th minute. Kavanagh stole into the box again but went down as McGinty got a hand to the ball. Referee Damien McGraith was having none of it and allowed play to continue.

McEleney was causing all kinds of trouble for the Rovers defence, and a fantastic cross found Eoin Toal, who headed wide with the goal at his mercy just seconds later.

Sligo started to wake up towards the end of the half, and their best chance came in in first half stoppage time. A low ball was driven across the Derry box and captain David Cawley got a foot to it, but his shot cannoned back off the crossbar, and the sides went in scoreless at the break.

Sligo started the second half brightly, as Will Fitzgerald found himself in space on the left wing. His low cross found Aidan Keena, who couldn’t repeat his goalscoring tricks this time around, as he fired his shot just over the bar.