Limerick 0

DERRY CITY BOSS Roddy Collins was booed off the Brandywell pitch by sections of the home support after his side were held to a drab, scoreless draw by Limerick.

Both Derry City and Limerick have netted just six times during the opening nine games so far this campaign —  the lowest in the league — and this result will have taken few by surprise.

Last season’s leading goalscorer, Rory Patterson’s glaring omission from the Derry team sheet — as the striker was dropped along with Shane McEleney — will be the main talking point on the Brandywell terraces.

It was a lifeless start to the game but the visitors created the first chance on four minutes when Jason Hughes shrugged off a challenge from Cliff Byrne before laying the ball into the path of Gaffney who dragged his shot wide.

Gaffney’s missile-like long throw-ins were causing the Derry defence problems but the Shannonsiders failed to capitalise.

The home side’s first attempt arrived on 19 minutes when JP McGovern’s inviting cross was met by a towering header from Aaron Barry but Stephen Folan headed the goalbound effort behind.

On the half hour mark Derry striker, Enda Curran tried his luck with a dipping long range strike on the half volley which went narrowly over the crossbar.

It was a dismal first half where neither goalkeeper was tested. However, bearing in mind Limerick’s last trip to Foyleside ended with a 6-0 demolition on the final day of the season, Stuart Taylor’s troops will have been fairly happy going into the second half with everything to play for.

Neither team really got going after the interval and Roddy Collins made his three substitutions during the opening 25 minutes of the second period with Dean Jarvis, Ryan Curran and Patrick McEleney all called into action and Derry were a much more attacking force.

Gaffney skilfully and all too easily escaped the attentions of Roddy Collins Jr deep in the Derry half before sending his low cross across the face of goal but no one could get that vital touch.

Michael Duffy then latched onto a backkward header from Shaun Kelly and got in behind the Limerick defence but he drilled his shot low into the side netting on 75 minutes.

Ryan Curran did well to get above his man at the back post to meet Collins’ cross but he headed safely into the hands of Barry Ryan on 81 minutes. Shane Tracey came so close to giving Limerick a valuable win with five minutes to go when his curling free-kick from 25 yards went just wide of the upright.