Crusaders 2-2 Derry City (5-4 on penalties)

THERE WAS LITTLE to separate the two sides vying for Setanta Cup glory at the Oval this evening.

While Crusaders looked the more fluent and threatening side in possession, the sheer physicality of their opponents’ effort ensured the game remained goalless until the 81st minute.

Ironically, it was Derry who opened the scoring, Rory Patterson capitalising on a moment of defensive complacency to side-foot an effort past Sean O’Neill in the Crusaders net.

The League of Ireland side’s lead was to prove short-lived, however; it took Crusaders captain Colin Coates only six minutes to nod home an effort from a corner kick.

Having protested the referee’s decision not to award a free kick for an apparent foul on goalkeeper Ger Doherty in the run-up to Coates’ equaliser, Derry were granted a measure of compensation in stoppage time when Crusaders full back Stephen McBride received his second yellow card of the afternoon.

Coates and Doherty again proved the central protagonists five minutes into extra time, the former capitalising on the goalkeeper’s reluctance to gather a lose ball to convert his second goalmouth opportunity of the game.

Though struggling to make their numerical advantage count, Derry were awarded a penalty in the 102nd minute, which Rory Patterson duly converted.

From there, the game wound inexorably towards a penalty shootout.

Each side converted it’s first four attempts on goal, but O’Neill ensured Derry wouldn’t record a fifth, stretching to deny Dermot McCaffrey. His heroics placed the tournament’s outcome at the feet of Gareth McKeown.

Unperturbed, guided an effort past Doherty and, in doing so, double Crusaders’ trophy haul for the 2011-12 season.

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