Soccer

Derry City beat Bohemians to end long wait for a win

Derry City's Aaron McEneff celebrates his decisive penalty against Bohemians with Conor McDermott Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Derry City's Aaron McEneff celebrates his decisive penalty against Bohemians with Conor McDermott Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Derry City's Aaron McEneff celebrates his decisive penalty against Bohemians with Conor McDermott Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

Airtricity League Premier Division: Derry City 2 Bohemians 0

DERRY City are back to winning ways at long last after a relatively comfortable victory over Bohemians at Maginn Park last night.

This was the first time since the tragic death of club captain Ryan McBride that the Candystripes have tasted victory, a run of seven games in all competitions.

It as thoroughly deserved too, with goals from Dean Jarvis and Aaron McEneff sealing a victory against a limited Bohemians team.

Derry came close on 11 minutes, as Ronan Curtis tested Shane Supple from close range. Aaron McEneff swung a free kick into a packed area and it went all the way to the back post, where Curtis arrived unmarked but saw his effort parried by the Bohs goalkeeper.

The first half was not memorable in any sense of the word but the game got the goal it desperately needed on 31 minutes. Josh Daniels won a free kick on the right and another accurate delivery from McEneff eluded the Bohs defence and Dean Jarvis was well positioned to power a header past Supple and into the net.

Bohs responded well to that goal and forced a number of corners, but, crucially, Derry held firm to take the much-needed lead into the half-time break.

It really should have been 2-0 to Derry less than 10 minutes into the second half. Rob Cornwall was too slow to clear and Nathan Boyle charged the ball down and raced through on goal. The striker was one-on-one with Supple, but he went for power rather than direction and blasted the ball wide of the target. It was a huge opportunity for Derry.

Another chance came and went for Derry on 64 minutes when the hosts produced a superb counter-attack to a Bohemians free kick.

Nathan Boyle held off Cornwall and raced into the Bohs area and played the ball right across the face of goal to the in-rushing Barry McNamee, but with the goal gaping, City’s top scorer got underneath the ball and it flew over the open goal, much to the disbelief of the Maginn Park crowd.

But Derry kept going and they got their reward on 68 minutes. Cornwall, having a very poor game, needlessly went into a challenge on Ben Doherty just inside the penalty area, giving referee Rob Harvey an easy penalty decision.

Aaron McEneff stepped up and drove the ball into the bottom corner, and raced off to the other end of the pitch to celebrate, unaware that referee Harvey had ordered the retake of the penalty due to infringement.

That the midfielder had to do it all again, but he did just that to seal victory.

Cork City’s incredible winning streak in the league was extended to 12 games last night following a comprehensive 5-0 home win over Finn Harps.

Stephen Dooley opened the scoring midway through the first half at Turners Cross before the in-form Sean Maguire made it 2-0 after 59 minutes.

Gearoid Morrissey added a third in the 79th minute and there was still time for Ryan Delaney and Maguire to add further goals as they moved 14 points clear at the top of the table.

There was further good news for City as Dundalk endured another difficult night as they lost 2-1 away to Shamrock Rovers.

Airtricity League Premier Division results

Bray 1 St Patricks 1, Cork City 5 Finn Harps 0, Derry City 2 Bohemians 0, Drogheda 2 Galway Utd 2, Shamrock Rovers 2 Dundalk 1