Two first-half goals and a late injury-time third saw Derry City Under 19’s through to the next round of the Enda McGuill Cup in this North-West derby clash at Finn Park.
Finn Harps 0 v 3 Derry City
Joe Boyle’s Harps side will feel a little hard done by in terms of the scoreline as they enjoyed a fair share of the possession throughout the game but the visitors proved more clinical when it came to what was a limited number of clear-cut chances in the game.
Harps had the best chance of the opening period when Corey McBride and Lee McLaughlin combined well down the right, but Jamie Browne pulled his effort on goal wide of the post from ten yards.
Derry City did have a couple of half-chances early, mostly as a result of some careless defending by Harps but they failed to convert. Corey McBride was just too high with a curler from the edge of the box and then the winger’s dangerous corner was headed just wide by Darragh Ellison in the 19th minute.
Six minutes later Derry were ahead, Harps were again careless in their defending but this time were punished when Patrick Ferry’s pass took a slight deflection on it’s way to finding Michael Harris who rounded keeper Joe Boyle to slot home from six yards. Harps responded well but struggled to find another opening and then found themselves 0-2 down in the 39th minute.
Full-back Jake Parke did very well on the right side and when his excellent low cross was missed by the first attacker in the penalty area, Patrick Ferry slammed it past Boyle from close range. Charlie Collins reports from Finn Park. Harps again had slightly the better of the second-half but again failed to really create clear-cut chances.
Likewise, as both teams introduced a number of replacements , Derry were finding it hard to increase their lead. Indeed it wasn’t until the 92nd minute that a third goal finally arrived, but Ordhan Kennedy pouncing on another error in the Harps defence to confidentially steer the ball past Keeper Boyle to wrap up the win and send City through to the next round of the Enda Mc Guill Cup on an 0-3 scoreline.
Finn Harps; Joe Boyle, Lee McLaughlin, Darragh Ellison, Keeling McGill , Keenan Diver, Jack Doherty, Corey McBride, Kieran Farren, Jamie Browne, Niall McGinley , Pat Loughrey. Subs ; Ronan Gallagher for Farren ( 53mind ),Gabriel Adouhe for McBride ( 66mins ), Darren McElwaine for McLaughlin ( 80mins ).
Derry City; Daniel Houghton, Jack Parke, Ryan Kennedy, Ronan Boyce, Brendan Barr, Jack Malone, Evan McLaughlin, Michael Harris, Kian McGarvey, Patrick Ferry , Kevin McKinley. Subs ; Sean McDermott for McKinley ( 55mins ), Jack O Donnell for McGarvey ( 62mins ), Aaron McDaid for Ferry ( 67mins ),Odhran Kennedy for Malone ( 77mins ) Conor Doherty for McLaughlin (82mins ). Referee; Garvin Taggert .