DERRY CITY 0
DUNDALK 4
Simon Collins reports from Brandywell Stadium
DUNDALK STRETCHED THEIR winning run to eight league matches with a comprehensive victory over Derry City at Brandywell Stadium.
Stephen Kenny’s in-form troops trail leaders Cork by a single point at the midseason break after scoring four goals on Foyleside for the second time this season.
Derry, meanwhile, slip into fifth spot with this being their seventh defeat in 10 league matches. Tonight’s loss also ensured that Shamrock Rovers leapfrogged them into fourth position in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on goal difference.
Following a 2-2 draw at Oriel Park earlier in the season and a 4-1 drubbing to end Derry’s unbeaten start at Brandywell this season, Dundalk have now netted 55 goals in 22 games against City under the watch of Stephen Kenny and this one was as dominant a win as the scoreline would suggest.
Robbie Benson broke the deadlock on 41 minutes when his shot beat Gerard Doherty at the near post just as Derry were getting to grips with the encounter.
After the break, the Lilywhites stepped it up with goals from Dylan Connolly, Pat Hoban and Michael Duffy ensuring a miserable night for the home support.
Derry had made one change from the team which won at Bohemians last week as they began life without the influential Ronan Curtis following his move to Portsmouth, with Ben Doherty replacing him on the left wing.
Kenny Shiels claimed he was down to the bare bones for the visit of the in-form Lilywhites and named five of the club’s U19 representatives on the bench.
The Candystripes were also without experienced midfielder Nicky Low, who sat out the game through suspension. Gavin Peers was also sidelined through injury.
Dundalk, meanwhile, were bolstered by the return of Chris Shields, Dane Massey and Jamie McGrath to their starting XI.
It was one-way traffic from the first whistle with the visitors dominating possession, though it was Derry who had the best of the early chances: Rory Patterson attempted an audacious lob from just inside the Dundalk half on three minutes with keeper Gary Rogers off his line, but his effort went wide.
Duffy then flashed a curling right-footed effort wide of the far post when the ball fell to him just inside the Derry penalty area.
Dundalk had Derry penned into their own half for the opening 20 minutes but it was the home side who came closest to breaking the deadlock five minutes later: Ben Doherty found Patterson on the edge of the box with his back to goal and the striker slipped the ball into the path of McEneff whose drilled effort from 25 yards had to be turned behind by Rogers at full stretch.
Duffy was played through on goal by Hoban on the hour mark and rounded the keeper but from a tight angle was forced to cross and the chance was lost.
The former Celtic man then returned the favour, playing Hoban into space just inside the Derry 18 yard box but the in-from striker scuffed his shot and Doherty made a routine save.
Dundalk hit the front on 41 minutes. Conor McDermott closed down Duffy’s strike but it fell to Benson, whose shot crept into the net at the near post. It was his third goal against the Candystripes this season but Doherty will be disappointed to have been beaten at his near post.
The Louth men were churning through the gears at the start of the second half and deservedly doubled their lead just after the hour mark.
Duffy crossed from the left and Hoban rose highest but powered his head off the underside of the crossbar. Connolly reacted quickest and blasted into the net to silence the home support.
Former Candystripe Duffy really should’ve added a third on 72 minutes when Massey found him with a lovely first time pass, but he blasted over the bar from 10 yards.
Dundalk did add a third moments later when Jamie McGrath’s deflected shot found Hoban in space inside the box and he coolly slotted into the net.
Duffy finally got on the scoresheet when substitute, Krisztian Adorjan dinked his pass towards the back post and the winger applied a superb finish with seven minutes remaining.
Derry City: G. Doherty: J. McDonagh, E. Toal, C. McDermott, J. Doyle; Ronan Hale, R. Hale, D. Cole, B. Doherty; A. McEneff; R. Patterson (C. Farren 69); Subs Not Used – E. Grimes, E. Tweed, A. Delap, N. Logue, S. McBride, S. McNamee.
Dundalk: G. Rogers; S. Hoare, B. Gartland, D. Cleary, D. Massey; D. Connolly, (K. Adorjan 80), C. Shields (S. Gannon 74), R. Benson, M. Duffy; J. McGrath; P. Hoban; Subs Not Used – G. Sava, S. Folan, R. Murray, M. Tagajumi, D. Jarvis.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan)