The Commentary Box:Dundalk were better than Derry from the start

This season, the two sides had already drawn twice, both at the Brandywell and Oriel. Derry are the richest club in the League of Ireland, along with Shamrock Rovers.

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But they are in a crisis. They have not won a game in seven matches. Supporters have turned against the manager, Tiarnan Lynch. He is now under severe pressure.

But he has two and a half years of his contract to go. He is highly unlikely to leave himself. It will be up to the owner of the club to reach a compensation deal and pay him off.

If he decides to allow Lynch to stay in place, I can only see Derry having to fight relegation.

On paper, they have one of the best teams in the league. In practice, they are just three points clear of the playoff zone.

Daryl Horgan played despite being injured against Drogheda. He was outstanding. He scored the first goal and set up Gbemi Arubi for the winner.

It was a totally deserved win. Dundalk played with such intensity that it caught Derry totally flat-footed. Horgan was my man of the match. He was unstoppable.

Tyreke Wilson cracked a shot of the Derry crossbar as Dundalk went looking for their opening goal. Dundalk were the better side from the start.

Derry keeper Eddie Beach was called on to make a terrific save after just five minutes. Declan McDaid tortured Derry all night.

He broke free in the box and was in a one-on situation with the Derry Keeper. Beach had McDaid covered. Many keepers would not have been able to do that.

Minutes later, Tyreke Wilson had a shot that cannoned off the Derry crossbar. I was sure that the goals were going to collapse, such was the ferocity of the Dundalk full back's effort.

Dundalk did have a let-off when a cross to Ben Doherty caught the defence totally on the hop. Dundalk just can not seem to cope with the high ball into the box.

Enda Minogue stayed on his line. He never comes out to meet the highball; Doherty should have scored. Instead, his half-hearted shot was narrowly wide.

Dundalk's pressure and intensity just saw them up a gear. They deservedly struck gold on 20 minutes. JR Wilson got a cross to Aubi.

His pass found Eoin Kenny, who found Horgan in the clear on the left-hand edge of the box. Daryl fired home an unstoppable shot to the left-hand corner of the net.

It was a magnificent goal. The Derry manager brought on Michael Duffy, Darragh Markey and Patrick Mclean at the start of the second half.

Duffy will always be a favourite at Oriel for all he did for Dundalk in the glory days of Stephen Kenny and Vinny Perth.

Dundalk were denied a stone wall penalty in the first half by referee Oliver Moran. Josh Thomas was booked for a foul that he should have been sent off for in the first half.

He was booked. Nine minutes into the second half, Thomas collided with Enda Minogue. It was all too obvious Thomas had deliberately fouled Minogue.

Thomas should have got a second yellow card and a red. Nothing was given. Minogue was left on the ground in a lot of pain.

But thankfully, Enda he was able to continue. It was a miracle, and he showed great courage to go on.

Thomas was replaced straight away by Boyce as Derry knew it was only a matter of time beforeThomas would be sent off.Derry were level on 56 minutes.

Duffy's corner was headed clear by JR Wilson. What we saw next was a stunning equaliser.

Cameron Dummigan met the loose ball just outside the box with a magnificent volley that hit the underside of the crossbar and crossed the line.

Dundalk were stunned. After all of their good work, Derry had dragged the game back to level terms.

But Dundalk were ahead minutes later when Tyreke Wilson released Horgan on the left. The Galway man's first time cross from the right was shot home from close range by Arubi.

Dundalk had once again ripped the Derry defence to shreds. Derry nearly got a second equaliser when Fleming sent in a great cross into the box.

A diving header from Michael Duffy was saved superbly by Enda Minogue. Jamie Clarke came close again for Derry.

Again, Minogue takes off a great save. Dundalk were able to see the game out easily enough after that. The performance from Dundalk was awesome.

Derry were just not good enough to make the breakthrough. It's amazing it's taken Dundalk 10 games to beat Derry.

But Ciaran Kilduff seems to have developed Dundalk into a real force in the League of Ireland again.Enda Minogue was sound in goals on Friday night. I would give him 7 out of 10.

The back three were Bobby Burns, Rob Cornwall and JR Wilson. Again, they were excellent, earning 8 out of 10 each.

Bobby Burns was asked by the manager how he would feel if he went into the centre-back position. Bobby had no problem filling it.

But Dundalk are still so vulnerable on the set pieces. They must work and work on that collectively as a team. Tyreke Wilson gets 8 out of 10.

He is a very special player. He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. He covered as a wing-back superbly.

When he went forward, the Derry defence creaked so badly. He had one shot in the first half that came crashing back off the crossbar.

Declan McDaid was the other wing-back. Again, another superb performance from the Dundalk player. He gets 7 out of 10.

Eoin Kenny had a truly excellent game in midfield, as did Shane Tracey. Both get eight out of ten. Daryl Horgan, the scorer of the first goal, was beyond excellent.

He was doubtful before the game, having picked up a rib injury the previous week in the Louth Derby. Well, Daryl continues to roll back the years.

He ran everything from midfield. He worked from the centre.

But at times, he was a wizard on the wings. He motivated and encouraged his players. It's like having a player-manager on the pitch. Daryl scored the opening goal as well.

And how he found himself in a great scoring position towards the left-hand edge of the box.

When the ball came to him, we all knew it was going to end up in the net before he even had his shot. Daryl was my man of the match. He gets 9 out of 10.

Aodh Dervin was once again magnificent. He played so well in the centre of midfield. This man gives everything for the cause.

He was superb. He worked and worked all night. I give Aodh 8 out of 10. Gbemi Arubi gets 9 out of 10. He had the Derry team in a bind throughout the night.

The Dundalk striker got the all-important goal to get Dundalk the points. When Derry levelled, the hearts of Dundalk supporters sank.

They wondered if all the good work that had gone into the game was for nothing. Within one minute, Dundalk were back in front. Gbemi, George Best style, latched onto a loose ball.

He set himself up well and fired to the net. He did much more than that. He teased and tormented the Derry defence throughout the night.

He was the pivotal player in Dundalk's victory. Harry Groome replaced Aodh Dervin. Harry gets 6. Shene Tacey was replaced by Keith Buckley on 71 minutes. He gets 6.

I thought Keith did particularly well when he came on. Ronan Teahan replaced Eoin Kenny on 71 minutes. Ronan gets 6. He did what he had to do and did well.

Danny Mullen replaced Daryl Horgan on 81 minutes. Danny is a top class player. Many Derry supporters were amazed when City let him go in the close season.

He had been hit with injury since he came to Dundalk. He is a top class striker. As he gradually gets his strength back, he will be a lethal weapon.

He did what he had to do for the last nine minutes of the game. He kept Derry busy and eased any pressure on the Dundalk defence. He gets 6.

There was some good news for Dundalk after the game. Mayowa is recovering well from his hamstring injury. He could be fit when the season resumes on Friday week in Galway.

This would be amazing and would be a great boost to the team. Skipper Daryl Horgan says the win over Derry was an unbelievable win.

“We should really have been out of sight of Derry. But then a top-class goal from our former player Cameron Dummigan levelled things up. It was a wonder goal.

“Then Gbemi scores a cracker straight away to restore our lead. We see the game out. Enda made a couple of good saves, but we saw the game out safely.

“I think Cameron's goal is some type of goal to be well-known. I thought we defended really well after the Gbemi goal. The lads that came off the bench were so good.

“We had a very good starting eleven as well. They are very strong in depth. But we showed that we have a very strong squad as well tonight. It's been like that all season.

“Many of our big moments come from lads off the bench. All in, this is a massive win. We have the break now. When we come back, we must hit the ground running.

“I got a bit of a niggled injury in Drogheda. I do not know. It was some sort of injury. I will be okay."

The Dundalk skipper did not want to talk about his injury or that he seemed to be in some pain when he came off with nine minutes remaining.

"I was delighted with the way that my goal came about. Gbemi put a great ball to Eoin he in turn showed such skill setting me up. The opportunity just came my way.

“One touch and the ball was in the back of the net. It was great, and it was real football. I was just there to finish it off. I just took it. I am banging in the goals. They are going in. I won't complain. I am always happy when we win. I am enjoying my games. The football is high octane. We are playing really enjoyable football. And there is a great group around me. The energy and enthusiasm in the squad is fantastic.

The pace at which we played was very intense. But that's the way we want to play. We like to be chasing and pressing and then be clinical in the final third.

“I thought we did really well in the first half. The intensity was so good. I thought in the second half we had to play a slightly different game.

“It has been a great first half to the season for us. But we need to come back from this break rejuvenated and hit the ground running for the next seventeen games plus the cup.

“All we will be aiming for when we come back is the Galway game in two weeks. We will be playing in the GAA county ground, Pearse Stadium, as well, not Eamonn Deacy Park.

“There is ongoing work happening in Eamonn Deacy Park. That is why there is a switch. It actually does not really matter. That's because Galway are so good.

“They are strong, skilful, and a good physical team. It will be a really difficult game for us. John Caulfield is such a strong, skilful, and experienced manager.

"When told he was 12-1 to get the first goal against Derry. Daryl says he knows nothing about those things.

“When I told him I know one reporter who put 20 euro on him, he jokingly says that he hopes the reporter gives him a lend of a euro or two.

"I am very happy with the way things have been going for us. The only way is up, yes, but that is only if we maintain our momentum. We have to continue to work hard and focus on Friday games.

“If we get ahead of ourselves, then it can all go so wrong so very quickly. It has to be work and concentration the whole time, and we must keep our focus.

“The 10-team league is so competitive. If you lose, you drop down the table quicker than go up the table when you win.

"Look at the start of the season, we were favourites to go down. We have created distance from that. We just have to keep it going, game by game, Friday by Friday.

“Tonight was a massive win. We have not beaten Derry in 10 games. That's a mad stat really/ I will hopefully be fit for the Galway game."

Dundalk boss Ciaran Kilduff told me that the win over Derry was big.

"It's a massive win for us. We are trying to find our way back. We are after beating Shamrock Rovers and Derry in the last two games here. We were intense, particularly in the first half.

“It was hard in the heat. They played Monday and Friday in the past week. We wanted to make things really difficult for them.

“Last week, the game against Drogheda was played at a slow pace. We are making things difficult for our opponents. That's the way we want to play. Our first goal tonight was superb.

“Gbemi linked it to Eoin. He laid it off so well for Daryl to put him in the clear. He put it away well. We wanted to hurt them by trying to get down the sides.

“We managed to do that. Derry should have had a player sent off. We were denied a stone wall penalty.

“I'm glad I am not left ruing all of that and some of the chances we missed as well. I was frustrated with some of the refereeing decisions.

“I did have words with the fourth official as well. But the officials do not have an easy job. They probably have as difficult a job as us.

"We showed great character and belief after they levelled. We went ahead again almost straight away. Despite the injury crisis, we found a way, and we reacted.

“We got back in front again. That is all that mattered. I would hope that Mayowa will be back in two weeks or so. But look, the lads need a break.

They are working very hard. We have given them a breather. I am flying to San Francisco on Saturday morning to continue my pro-licence training.

I am going for four days. Then I am straight back here to Oriel. I don't really get a break. And I am always busy when you are around.

As far as shopping in the transfer window, our owner is great. He will, of course, help us any way he can.

I have to see what players can be a help to us if they are available. We have players injured. We will see what we have before we make any moves.

"Gbemi Arubi celebrated his 22nd birthday last Tuesday. It's amazing to think that his golden goal at Oriel on Friday was his first at Oriel since last October when he scored against Finn Harps.

His goal came just a single minute after Cameron Dummigan's sensational volley that had levelled the game up at 1-1.

Tiarnan Lynch's men have not now won a game in seven matches. He has only had four wins in 20 games. It was also Derry's sixth defeat of the season.

Tempers flared at the final whistle in Oriel on Friday. This happened when Tiarnan Lynch vented his frustration at a Dundalk defender.

It was an altercation that threatened to spill over before the Derry boss made his way down the tunnel.

The Derry manager is adamant that he can turn things around at the Brandywell. But as already stated, only 57 fans from Derry made the journey to Oriel to see the game.

This was the smallest ever attendance of Derry supporters who attended a game at Oriel, since Derry came into the League of Ireland in the mid-1980s.

After the game, I said to Tiarnan Lynch that the fact that the lowest ever number of Derry fans attending Oriel says a lot and if it would make him consider his position at the club.

He said he was not there to talk about the numbers at the game. He was there to talk about the football.

He says he is there to keep concentrating on the football team and to keep trying to produce their best. He said he is working hard to try and turn things around.

He also said he was doing his best to do this. Again, I asked the Derry boss did he not think that the lowest fan attendance I had seen from Derry was not a vote of no confidence in him.

He said that again that he was going to concentrate on the football team. He said that he was going to keep looking after the football team.

He said that he wanted to give the Derr

y fans something to be proud of. He said that it was very difficult and he gets that.

But he said he was going to keep doing what he has been doing.Tiarnan Lynch has a two and a half years of a three-year contract still to go.

Of course, he is not going to leave. He will want to be fully compensated by club owner Philip Doherty should he wish to let his manager go.

We have all seen things like this with managers here before at Oriel. My advice to the Derry owner is to compensate the current manager for what he would be owed if he is let go.

Derry need a new manager and quickly. If the owner continues to let things slide there, then a very unnecessary problem will continue to grow at the club.

Former Dundalk defender Sean Keogh, who is now with Brighton, was an interesting spectator at Friday's game.

It's believed Vinnie Leonard has departed the club. Vinnie has been out with an illness for most of the season.

Officially, he remains a Dundalk player until the end of June. But he becomes a Norwich player officially at the beginning of July.

In a message on social media, Vinnie thanked the club, players and the manager for all of their help during his time at Dundalk.

He also paid tribute to the supporters for everything they have given him while with Dundalk. There is no doubt that all at the club would like to thank Vinnie.

This includes supporters, owners, management, players, and all associated with Dundalk FC. Vinny played a pivotal role in getting Dundalk promoted last season.

He will be a great help to Norwich City and to the Republic of Ireland under 19 team. I do not think it will be too long before Vinnie gets a first-team spot at his new club.

Vinnie was a great help with the local media. There was never any difficulty in getting an interview from him. Chris Shields returned to Oriel on Friday.

He was co-commentator with Eric White on BBC Radio Foyle. Chris maintains a strong interest in how the club are doing.

He thinks it's great to see them doing so well back in the Premier Division. It was great to see former Dundalk striker Hilary Carlisle back at Oriel on Friday.

There was a special presentation made to him in recognition to all he did for the club. Hillary was a lethal striker.

He was part of the first Dundalk FC team ever to do a League and cup double that was in 1978/79. Hillary won a cup medal again in 1981.

He also won a league medal in 1982 with Dundalk. It was his goal against Athlone Town at Saint Mells Park that won the league for Dundalk.

The game was played on the last day of the season. Dundalk FC have been fined 1100 euro for items thrown onto a pitch on two occasions.

There were 2,600 people at Oriel on Friday. There were less than 60 people from Derry at the game. Dundalk is the second closest team to Derry in the league.

The Louth girls under-12 team proudly showed off a trophy they won recently. They paraded the trophy in front of the Oriel Park crowd on Friday night.

They got a great reception. It's a testament to the growth of girls' and women's football in general.

The win only focuses minds further on a push for Dundalk to have a women's team in the Premier Division League. The club needs that, and it needs it badly.

Moves are on to get to that level. I think it will be sooner rather than later.

The Muirhevnamor FC under-12 boys team also proudly paraded their SFAI National League trophy at Oriel on Friday.

The under-12s ironically won the league on the week the town lost a great person who was so heavily involved in schoolboy soccer in Dundalk. That, of course, was Gerry Gover.

Joint managers Conal Mulvenna and Stephen McGuill led the team to glory. The Dundalk players got a quick break since Saturday.

That's because they have no league game this coming weekend. Their next game is away to Galway.

The game will be played at the Pearse GAA Stadium on Friday week. The players' break is not long. They are due back in tomorrow.

Have a great week. Look after each other and yourselves. And always remember to be careful out there.