UCD 0
Derry City 1
WILL PATCHING’S PENALTY ended Derry City’s eight-game run without a win as they took all three points away to basement club UCD.
The spot kick was calmly converted in the 53rd minute after Candystripes striker Jamie McGonigle was tripped in the box by Michael Gallagher.
It was a gift from the Student and exactly the kind of good fortune that Ruaidhri Higgins needed following a desperate spell last month prior to the mid-season break.
Derry were looking like genuine title contenders after cruising past St Patrick’s Athletic 4-0 away from home in late April.
Three defeats and three draws from their next six games was followed on the resumption of the league last week with a 1-1 draw at home to Drogheda United.
Confidence was low and while Matty Smith released an early shot, it was the home side who had the first effort in real anger.
Dylan Duffy drove forward from the left and forced Ireland U-21 goalkeeper Brian Maher into a decent save.
His opposite number, Kian Moore, was also tested and had to show his abilities to deny McGonigle’s fine effort into the top corner.
Derry were in need of a cutting edge in a game that was in the balance, both defences looking vulnerable but not getting punished.
That changed in the 53rd minute with the award of the penalty.
Patching strode up and converted with consummate ease, helping Derry finally emerge from the toughest of patches.
UCD: Moore; Gallagher (Ryan 66), Keaney, Todd, Osam; Brennan (Nolan 66), Keane; Dignam (Verdon 66), Caffrey, Higgins (Lonergan 57); Duffy (Norris 84).
Derry City: Maher; Porter, S McEleney, McJannet, Coll; Thomson, P McEleney; Kavanagh (Lafferty 89), Patching, Smith (McLaughlin 90+4); McGonigle (Akintunde 73).
Referee: Ray Matthews.
Seems to be fairly grounded. Best of luck to him!
Wow. That closing piece of advice is powerful for a 16 year old. I like him already.
Not going to be popular but gaa is the main reason Ireland isn’t producing more professional sports people. Nothing against gaa but young kids are playing a sport they can’t make a living from when they may make a career from another sport with the same input.
@Harry Trafford: that is of no fault of the GAA to be fair. It’s up to the FAI to attract these young players to their product…every country faces the same issue, sports competing with other sports to attract young participants. Ireland is no different.
@Harry Trafford: not everything is about money. For some playing gaa and having a good job etc is enough for them. They play the sport and can obtain legendary local status. For others it’s about chasing huge wads of cash in a more commercial industry overseas with huge failure rates. Retire & play golf & grow a beer belly. Different folks, different strokes. As long as you’re happy. That’s the main thing.
@Ottomaaan: I agree the FAI need to pull the finger out. Ireland have some of the best sports people in the world right across the board. Just the article mentions a career in GAA but it’s an amature sport, all be it played with a professional attitude.
@Ronan McDermott: a career in sport isn’t all about money, not everyone makes massive wads of cash only the very small majority. I’m not referring to just becoming a footballer. You can make a decent wage in most sports at a professional level.
@Harry Trafford: I hear you. Not disagreeing with you as such. Lots of sports have salary caps etc. By being involved with gaa you could have a very good job arranged with a sponsor etc. So technically you’d still be making money with a company that’ll work around your schedule.
@Ronan McDermott: very small minded, being a top footballer against the billions that play or the the top hurler against the 100s that play
@tubbsyf: I’m not small minded at all. Different folks, different strokes is all I said.
“Stay committed to doing it. Don’t go over there and think you’ve made it. You’re only playing 18s football. You haven’t made it anywhere yet, so keep your head down and keep working away.” Sounds like Roy Keane got to him.
I think this is a story the GAA need to be cery cognisant of. The way the competitions are set up now you only have a few counties who are ever likely to win anything with back doors, super 8′s etc making it almost impossible for one of the “smaller” teams like wicklow to hold onto or encourage their best players to stick with the support. The constant push for revenue generated by the biggest counties making finals is seeing the players from the top counties putting in even more effort in the knowledge they might win something while concurrently you have teams from weaker counties who are saying upwards of 40 players are refusing to come into their County set ups.
@Dino Baggio: This is vividly highlighted in Munster where they seed the draw to have Cork and Kerry in the football final every year even though Cork are at best the third best team in Munster and the likes of Limerick footballers are struggling to get players to commit. The drain of players to pro sports is going to get worse unless the Gaa address this issue.
Only just came across this article. Conor was with Mill Celtic from the age of 11 before joining Newbridge Town at 13. He was in the KDUL Academy from 11 and played inter league at u 12 and u 13. Not sure where the only playing soccer since 14 is coming from
Bully Beef?