Dundalk’s miserable run continues with defeat to Derry City

Dundalk FC’s disappointing end to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season continued on Friday night as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell, extending a wretched run of form that has yielded just one win in 14 games and leaving them seventh in the table with one fixture remaining.

Derry took the lead in the 12th minute when Adam O’Reilly’s ball over the top exposed a series of defensive errors in the Dundalk backline.

Ellis Chapman’s effort was cleared off the line by Egor Vassenin, but James Clarke reacted quickest to the rebound to put the hosts in front.

Derry threatened to extend their advantage, with Darragh Burns curling a shot well wide before Dundalk goalkeeper Enda Minogue produced successive saves to deny Brandon Fleming and Michael Duffy. O’Reilly then fired narrowly over from the edge of the area.

Dundalk enjoyed their best spell of the first half thereafter, Aodh Dervin volleying straight at Brian Maher after the ball broke kindly for him on the edge of the box.

Daryl Horgan, one of three nominees for the PFAI Player of the Year award, subsequently found space before sending a dipping effort from distance over the crossbar.

O’Reilly tested Minogue again with a long-range strike that stung the goalkeeper’s hands, but Dundalk came close to equalising when Bobby Burns’ hooked effort was headed off the line by Duffy. Trevor Clarke then forced Maher to tip a shot over the bar, while Tom Grivosti headed wide from the resulting corner.

The second half took time to produce any meaningful opportunities, with James Clarke drawing a comfortable save from Minogue with a low effort inside the area shortly after the hour mark. Duffy then fired wide as Derry continued to look for a second goal.

That arrived in the 71st minute when Darragh Markey’s incisive pass was laid off by Burns, allowing Duffy to sweep the ball past Minogue and put the hosts firmly in control.

Dundalk, however, gave themselves a lifeline nine minutes later. Ronan Teahan saw a close-range effort blocked by Fleming before substitute Shane Tracey produced an excellent finish from the edge of the area to reduce the deficit.

The visitors had an opportunity to salvage a point five minutes from time, but Horgan’s free-kick failed to trouble Maher, leaving Dundalk to reflect on another disappointing night as their difficult run continued.

Derry City: Brian Maher; Cameron Dummigan (Conor Barr 87), Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean; Darragh Burns (Kevin dos Santos 73), Adam O’Reilly (Darragh Markey 67), Nick Twisk, Ellis Chapman, Brandon Fleming; James Clarke (Terence Doherty 87), Michael Duffy (Gavin Whyte 73)

Subs not used: Tom Norcott (gk), Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Christy Grogan, Tyler Smith

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Bobby Burns, Tom Grivosti, Egor Vassenin (Rob Cornwall 56), Tyreke Wilson (Harvey Warren 69); Keith Buckley (Shane Tracey 69), Aodh Dervin; Declan McDaid (Harry Groome 56), Daryl Horgan, Trevor Clarke (Cian Dillon 69); Ronan Teahan

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Leo Gaxha, Luke Mulligan, Norman Garbett

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway)