Derry 0
Limerick 0
A WASTEFUL DERRY City moved out of the relegation play-off spot but their dismal winless run continues after drawing a blank with bottom of the table Limerick.
The Candystripes have netted just four goals from their last 11 league games and they came up against a Limerick side who have netted just 14 goals so far this campaign.
So while a scoreless draw doesn’t exactly come as a major surprise, Derry really should have had this one wrapped up by half-time such was their domination of the opening 45 minutes.
City winger, Stephen Dooley, was the main culprit having mis-kicked his effort from six yards on the half-hour mark before blasting over the bar from close range on the stroke of half-time.
Both teams have struggled to find the back of the net this season, scoring 28 goals between them so far this season, so it didn’t come as much as a surprise to see them go in at the break scoreless.
However, the home side dominated and created a host of chances, most notably Dooley’s glorious chance wasted from six yards.
It was a bright opening from Derry and the lively Patrick McEleney came close after just five minutes when stealling a yard on the defender before curling his shot narrowly over.
The Derry striker did superbly to wriggle free of Robbie Williams before racing towards goal but he over-ran the ball allowing Fred Hall to come and clear the danger.
Limerick’s only chance of the half arrived on 11 minutes from a free-kick but Shane Tracy’s promising strike was just off target.
Then came that Dooley chance as McEleney played Mark Timlin down the left flank and his low cross across the six yard box needed the deftest of touches but the Derry winger somehow mis-kicked his shot and the chance went begging.
Derry continued to push forward and Barry McNamee was played through the middle on 32 minutes and his low strike seemed destined for the corner of the net but Hall did superbly to get his fingertips to the ball and divert it behind.
McEleney did have the ball in the back of the net on 38 minutes, when he lofted his shot over the keeper and into the net, but the referee’s assistant raised his flag for offside.
Just before the break, McEleney once again was tormenting the Limerick defence and he skipped past his marker before dinking the ball towards the back post where Dooley blasted recklessly over the bar.
That effort summed up Derry’s opening 45 minutes but they really should have taken a commanding lead into the break.
It was much more encouraging for Limerick at the start of the second half, but neither side managed to test the opposing keeper.
Mark Quigley replaced Patrick McEleney to make his City debut with nine minutes remaining, as Derry attempted to secure maximum points, but it wasn’t to be.
Derry City: G. Doherty; R. Cornwall, S. McEleney, R. McBride, D. Jarvis; S. Dooley (R. Curtis 77), P. Lowry, B. McNamee, M. Timlin, P. McEleney (M. Quigley 81), R. Curran (C. Morrison 85); Subs Not Used – S. Patton, J. Daniels, S. Sharkey, A. Barry.
Limerick: F. Hall; P. O’Conor, A. Price, R. Williams, S. Tracy; R. Mann (P. Agyemang h-t), S. Duggan, J. Hughes (L. Lynch 71), S. Russell, I Turner; D. Clarke; Subs Not Used – T. Holland, S. Harding, V, Faherty, D. Rainsford, P. O’Connor.
Referee - Paul Tuite (Dublin)
Man of the match – Patrick McEleney (Derry City) – The City striker tormented the LImerick defence throughout the first half and set up Stephen Dooley for what appeared a certain goal on 44 minutes but the winger somehow fluffed his lines.