Derry City 5-0 Drogheda United
DERRY CITY PRODUCED a five star show at Brandywell to keep alive their 2014 season as the Candystripes cruised into the semi-finals of the FAI Cup.
An understrength Drogheda United who were minus FIVE first team regulars through suspension, just couldn’t handle the attacking prowess of the city forwards in this quarter-final replay.
A stunning first half strike from man of the match Patrick McEleney put Derry in the driving seat and a Rory Patterson brace, a well-taken Michael Duffy finish and a wicked deflection from Patterson’s last minute free-kick, ensured comfortable passage into the last four.
Hutton’s side were unchanged from last Friday night’s drawn game but Damien Richardson was forced into making five alterations to his starting line-up with club captain Shane Grimes and midfielders Peter McGlynn, Gavin Brennan and Gavin Holohan all suspended.
Suspended City boss Hutton watched from the stand as his side got off to a dream start thanks to that stunning strike from McEleney after just six minutes.
From a well-worked corner kick, the ball found its way to McEleney lurking on the edge of the area and he rifled the ball into the far corner of the net with a powerful left-foot strike.
At this rate McEleney, who took his season’s tally to nine goals, could almost compile a goal of the season competition of his own.
The home lot grew in confidence and almost doubled their lead on 22 minutes when Patterson chased down McNamee’s cross and laid it into the path of Stephen Dooley. However, the winger’s shot on the turn went just wide of the post.
Three minutes before the break McEleney’s corner kick was cleared toward the edge of the penalty area and Barry McNamee’s low volley was deflected behind as City continued to press.
Michael Duffy then found himself through on goal but his low shot was saved well by Michael Schlingerman on 54 minutes.
Dooley made a lung bursting run into the Drogheda box on the hour mark before slotting the ball through to Patterson and the striker’s shot from an acute angle nestled into the net to settle the growing tension at Brandywell.
Five minutes later and Barry Molloy, who was deployed in the right back role once again, screwed his left footed shot from a promising position wide of the post after McNamee found him with a first-time cross.
City sealed the win on 70 minutes when Patterson won the ball back deep inside his own half and when McEleney sent Duffy scampering clear on goal, the winger cooly curled his shot across goal and into the corner of the net.
Duffy’s curling effort struck the crossbar as the visiting defence began to fall apart before Patterson added his second of the night after linking up superbly with Duffy before steering his volley into the corner on 81 minutes.
The ball found its way into the Drogheda net for a fifth and final time on 89 minutes when Patterson’s long distance free-kick too a deflection off the wall and it wrong-footed Schlingerman and crept into the corner of the net.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Jarvis, McBride, Barry, Molloy (Timlin, 79); Dooley, Lowry (Houston, 86), McNamee, Duffy; P McEleney (Tracey, 88), Patterson.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Schlingerman; Doyle, McNally, McGuigan, Kierans; Brady (Reilly, 83), Maher (Andrews, 81), Brady (Wixted, 74), Crowley, Walshe; O’Brien.
Referee – Tomas Connolly (Dublin).
Leitrims year this year we’ve been knocking on the door for the last 100 years.
Agree. Ye just weren’t good enough the other 32.
Well Niall with Leicester winning – maybe they will!
What county is Leitrem in?
I would say Dublin will win it. I doubt it will be easy this time though. Tyrone have been putting together this side for the past few years and they look to be on the verge of something.
Who’s going to stop the Dubs in fairness? I’m not a Dub & I’m not going to rant about money, Croke Park, sponsorship, population, whatever. No matter what the reason is, they’re the best team in the country & that’s all there is to it.
The best, but not unbeatable. Any of the other top sides can beat them on any given day. Problem with the championship is they wint meet another top side till august.
Ya Tyrone might come close,they have been building & will use arms Knees elbows pulling dragging diving fouling spitting there way to the Top!!
A true a plague of Misery & disease to Football!!
Similar to Kerry and Dublin so…
Its hard to look past the Dubs. But in football you just never know. Kerry,Mayo and Tyrone are the only ones that have a chance of beating them. It’s just a pity we will have to wait until August for clashes between the big teams.
I’m not from Dublin but they will go on and win Sam Maguire again and next year they will do the same. No county in Ireland are good enough to beat Dublin.
Cork waiting in the long grass….
Mayo seem to have plenty of things going well for them. The likes of Evan Regan and Conor O’Shea look well suited to top quality football. Diarmuid o Conner is going from strength to strength and I can see a few of his fellow U21 Winning Teammates making the step up in the next few years possibly even this year . Then again we never know with Mayo do we.
lol Mayo
Mayo.
I’m offended that you haven’t included Down!
Build a bridge Niall
Down? Lmao
Ah come on lads, it’s clearly a joke. We’re feckin terrible.
Some clowns just don’t understand funny
I wouldn’t rule out roscommon after last night’s performance. They will grow in confidence as the year goes on
Probably poll should have been just Dublin or others.
I know this sounds absurd but Dublin are the only good team. The only team I can see challenging them is Tyrone. Kerry don’t have the players they used to and Mayo well they just have yellow bellies to be metaphorical. Dublin also have an amazing benchCostello, McMahon, Small to name a few. Dublin will win and they will win well.
McMahon and Small on the bench?
Silly question the dubs 100%
Big year for Roscommon?
Leitrims year