SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Derry City 2 Finn Harps 2
DERRY CITY old boys Ryan Curran and Sean Houston came back to haunt their old club as Finn Harps battled back to earn a point at the Brandywell.
Curran gave Ollie Horgan’s men a half-time advantage before two late strikes from Joshua Daniels and Rory Patterson seemed to win the points for City, but Houston’s stoppage time header earned the visitors a point.
Kenny Shiels kept the same side which defeated St Patrick’s Athletic in their last outing, while Harps, who drew 0-0 with Bohemians last time out made one change with Dave Scully coming in for Gareth Harkin.
Harps had the first shot in the encounter with Adam Hanlon seeing his shot from a tight angle flew well over. City’s first opportunity came on 17 minutes but Rory Patterson’s attempted lob from the right-hand side of the box was easily gathered by Harps ’keeper Ciaran Gallagher.
Harps deservedly took the lead on 21 minutes when Ryan Curran scored against his old club. A super flowing move by the visitors ended with Dave Scully’s right-wing strike tipped onto the bar by Derry ’keeper Gerard Doherty, but the alert Curran headed home the loose ball from close range.
Minutes later City went close to equalising when Patterson’s knockdown found Barry McNamee, but his left-footed strike was kept out by Gallagher. Patterson should have levelled matters on 29 minutes when the striker broke the offside trap, but his attempted chip over Gallagher from inside the box beat the ’keeper, but also trickled wide. Right on the stroke of half-time Gallagher had to make a good smart stop to keep out Ronan Curtis’s 20-yard strike, after McNamee’s pass had created the chance.
City, who brought on Dean Jarvis for Patrick McClean at the break, had a half chance on 47 minutes but McNamee’s shot with his weaker right foot flew well over the bar. On 60 minutes a tremendous passing move from end of the pitch to the other should have ended in a Derry equaliser but Keith Ward’s tame side footed shot was saved by Gallagher.
Ten minutes later Ward’s 20-yard strike took a big deflection and fell perfectly to Ronan Curtis, but his tame shot was straight at Gallagher. On a rare counter attack Harps went close to doubling their lead on 81 minutes but Adam Hanlon’s shot was kept out Doherty.
Gallagher made a remarkable save minutes later when Dean Jarvis’ header from virtually point blank range was kept out by the Harps keeper. Derry deservedly drew level on 83 minutes when substitute Nathan Boyle saw his right-wing cross flash across the six yard box and fellow substitute Daniels fired home his first senior goal from close range.
City added a second on 88 minutes in fantastic style when Daniels’ pass found Patterson, who turned his man before firing high past Gallagher. Just as Derry thought they had won all three points Harps levelled things thanks a fantastic header from Houston.
MATCH STATS
Derry City: Doherty, Vemmelund, McBride, Barry, McClean (Jarvis h-t); McCormack, McEneff; Curtis (Boyle 78), McNamee, Ward (Daniels 78); Patterson
Finn Harps: Gallagher, McNulty, Cowan, Mailey, Coll; Hanlon, Molloy (McHugh 89), Houston, McNamee, (Boyle 74); Curran, Scully
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin)
