BJ Banda and Michael Funston netted the goals last night as Finn Harps recorded a memorable derby win over Derry City at Maginn Park.
Banda struck, against the run of play, late in the first half and Funston made safe the win on 81 minutes with Harps’ second of the game.
Picture caption: Finn Harps’ Caolan McAleer skips past Derry City defender Conor McDermott. Picture by North West Newspix
Chris McNulty examines the talking points …
- Harps get a famous away win
Harps finally seem to have freed themselves from the Indian sign that had dogged them ever since Derry’s entry into the League of Ireland in 1985.
Harps had won only two League games against the Candystripes before last night’s meeting – and had never tasted an away League win in a derby.
But BJ Banda and Michael Funston saw Harps consign that statistic to history with a famous win. Interestingly, it was the same two scorers from that play-off win over Limerick 17 months ago.
It was no more than they deserved, too. Although Banda’s opener came against the run of play, with Derry having the better of the early chances, Harps were in command in the second half.
- BJ Banda’s back – in style!
When Jonny Bonner limped off in the 22nd minute, Ollie Horgan called BJ Banda into the action. It might have been a change enforced on the Harps manager, but it proved an inspired change.
Banda terrorised the City defence and he opened the scoring when a deflected shot spun over Gerard Doherty, the Derry goalkeeper, late in the first half.
Banda twice went close to adding to the tally and he had a big part in Harps’ second, as Michael Funston netted after Banda was thwarted by Doherty.
The 18-year-old Banda added another heroic tale to his collection and it was a display that outlined that he might well be ready to step up and become a first team regular.
- A clean sheet at last for Harps
Harps were under the cosh for a period in the first half and Derry were left to rue a couple of costly misses as Banda’s opener put Harps in command.
Ronan Curtis and Mikhail Kennedy both hit the side-netting when they ought to have done better.
With Derry turning the screw, it took a fabulous save from Ciaran Gallagher to turn over a teasing effort by Aaron McEneff that seemed destined for the Harps net.
Soon after, Banda had Harps ahead and the visitors managed the game to near perfection in the second half. Harps made light of the pre-match odds of 6/1 as they frustrated Derry and kept the Candystripes at bay from Banda’s goal until the conclusion.
- Barry Molloy ‘rolls the years back’
His retirement was lost in the garlands that were being thrown at Kevin McHugh as he left the stage following a glittering Finn Harps career and his u-turn was overtaken by Harps’ capture of Paddy McCourt – but that’ll have sat quite alright with Barry Molloy.
The former Derry captain was persuaded into, again, going back on his decision to quit senior football and just days before the start of the season Molloy was announced as having returned to the club.
Molloy had turned in a big shift for Harps last season and this year, in spite of his late comeback, the Bishop Street man has been an integral part of a decent start by Ollie Horgan’s side.
Last night, Horgan reckoned that Molloy had ‘rolled the years back’.
Molloy was simply outstanding and controlled the game for Harps from the engine room. They’ll hope the injury that forced him off late in the game isn’t too serious.
- Derry’s search for normality continues
Kenny Shiels, in his programme notes, mentioned his Derry City side being ‘fired up’ for this one. But there was little evidence of it over the 90 minutes, save for those chance in the first half.
It has been a difficult time at Derry, one beyond comprehension as they somehow attempt to return to normality following the tragic death of their captain, Ryan McBride, last month.
Derry have now lost three games since getting back to action and have shipped eight goals in three games. It is the first time since Shiels took the reigns that Derry have lost three-in-a-row. Without Barry McNamee and Rory Patterson, Derr are down two key assets and are a side that looks like it will take time to find normality again.
Tags: