DUNDALK DEFENDER DANE Massey proved the unlikely winner at the Brandywell as his second half strike extended the champions’ winning start to the 2015 campaign.
The left-back drove forward to get on to the end of new signing Ronan Finn’s defence splitting pass and fired low into the bottom corner.
It was a memorable evening for Massey, who had prevented Mark Timlin from getting a shot on goal when he looked certain to score moments before netting the winning strike.
That goal on 65 minutes proved decisive but Derry’s defence were resolute for the opening 45 minutes were they were really under the cosh.
Dundalk had started on the front foot and Ronan Finn’s dangerous low cross into the six yard area was poked towards goal at the front post but Ger Doherty stood tall and palmed away from point blank range.
Doherty was at the centre of attention once on the half hour mark when he screwed his clearance and Mountney headed it into the path of McMillan.
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The Dundalk striker was clean through on goal but Doherty advanced outside his area and saved superbly with his shins to deny the visitors.
Dundalk controlled the game for the entirety of the first half, however, Derry’s defence worked tirelessly to contain them and would have been delighted to get to the interval on level terms.
Two minutes after the restart Mountney’s cross was cleared to the edge of the Derry area by Shane McEleney and Ronan Finn’s first time shot was tipped over the bar by Doherty.
Derry’s best move of the match arrived on 51 minutes but when Shaun Kelly crossed into the penalty area Philip Lowry’s shot on the stretch looped over the bar.
That seemed to give the home side a new lease of life and when Mark Timlin kept the ball alive inside the box, heading down into the path of Ryan Curran, the striker’s shot at the near post was deflected just wide.
It was a lot more encouraging from the Candystripes and they opened up the Dundalk defence once again on the hour mark.
Curran played Timlin onside with a well timed pass but when the winger raced towards goal Dane Massey produced a superb sliding challenge to deny the Buncrana man a shot on goal.
For all Derry’s efforts it was Dundlak who broke the deadlock on 65 minutes. Finn played a incisive throughball which caught the Derry defence napping and Massey sent his clinical shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Patrick McEleney did well to win a free-kick on the edge of the area with 60 seconds to go but his curling effort struck the head of a teammate and went behind for a goal kick as the home lot’s hopes petered out.
And Dundalk held on to extend their winning start to the new season.
Derry City: G. Doherty 8; S. Kelly 6 (G. Kelly 88), S. McEleney 7, R. McBride 7, A. Barry 7; M. Timlin 7 (J. Daniels6, 78), B. McNamee 6, P. Lowry 6, P. McEleney 7, S. Houston 7; R. Curran 6; Subs Not Used – S. Patton, D. Jarvis, P. McClean, S. Sharkey, R. Curtis.
Dundalk: G. Rodgers 6; S. Gannon 7, B. Gartland 7, A. Boyle 6, D. Massey 7; J. Mountney 7 (S. Grimes 90), C. Shields 6, R. Towell 7, R. Finn 8, D. Horgan 6 (D. Meenan 6, 62); D. McMillan 7 (K. Byrne 6, 77); Subs not Used – G. Sava, P. Barrett, J. Kelly, C. O’Connor.
Dundalk showed last night in Derry exactly why they won the title last season
DERRY CITY 0 DUNDALK 1
DUNDALK DEFENDER DANE Massey proved the unlikely winner at the Brandywell as his second half strike extended the champions’ winning start to the 2015 campaign.
The left-back drove forward to get on to the end of new signing Ronan Finn’s defence splitting pass and fired low into the bottom corner.
It was a memorable evening for Massey, who had prevented Mark Timlin from getting a shot on goal when he looked certain to score moments before netting the winning strike.
That goal on 65 minutes proved decisive but Derry’s defence were resolute for the opening 45 minutes were they were really under the cosh.
Dundalk had started on the front foot and Ronan Finn’s dangerous low cross into the six yard area was poked towards goal at the front post but Ger Doherty stood tall and palmed away from point blank range.
Doherty was at the centre of attention once on the half hour mark when he screwed his clearance and Mountney headed it into the path of McMillan.
The Dundalk striker was clean through on goal but Doherty advanced outside his area and saved superbly with his shins to deny the visitors.
Dundalk controlled the game for the entirety of the first half, however, Derry’s defence worked tirelessly to contain them and would have been delighted to get to the interval on level terms.
Two minutes after the restart Mountney’s cross was cleared to the edge of the Derry area by Shane McEleney and Ronan Finn’s first time shot was tipped over the bar by Doherty.
Derry’s best move of the match arrived on 51 minutes but when Shaun Kelly crossed into the penalty area Philip Lowry’s shot on the stretch looped over the bar.
That seemed to give the home side a new lease of life and when Mark Timlin kept the ball alive inside the box, heading down into the path of Ryan Curran, the striker’s shot at the near post was deflected just wide.
It was a lot more encouraging from the Candystripes and they opened up the Dundalk defence once again on the hour mark.
Curran played Timlin onside with a well timed pass but when the winger raced towards goal Dane Massey produced a superb sliding challenge to deny the Buncrana man a shot on goal.
For all Derry’s efforts it was Dundlak who broke the deadlock on 65 minutes. Finn played a incisive throughball which caught the Derry defence napping and Massey sent his clinical shot into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Patrick McEleney did well to win a free-kick on the edge of the area with 60 seconds to go but his curling effort struck the head of a teammate and went behind for a goal kick as the home lot’s hopes petered out.
And Dundalk held on to extend their winning start to the new season.
Derry City: G. Doherty 8; S. Kelly 6 (G. Kelly 88), S. McEleney 7, R. McBride 7, A. Barry 7; M. Timlin 7 (J. Daniels6, 78), B. McNamee 6, P. Lowry 6, P. McEleney 7, S. Houston 7; R. Curran 6; Subs Not Used – S. Patton, D. Jarvis, P. McClean, S. Sharkey, R. Curtis.
Dundalk: G. Rodgers 6; S. Gannon 7, B. Gartland 7, A. Boyle 6, D. Massey 7; J. Mountney 7 (S. Grimes 90), C. Shields 6, R. Towell 7, R. Finn 8, D. Horgan 6 (D. Meenan 6, 62); D. McMillan 7 (K. Byrne 6, 77); Subs not Used – G. Sava, P. Barrett, J. Kelly, C. O’Connor.
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)
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