Soccer

Cork seal Airtricity title while Derry book European spot

Kenny Shiels saw his Derry City side secure a European place with a 0-0 draw against Cork
Kenny Shiels saw his Derry City side secure a European place with a 0-0 draw against Cork Kenny Shiels saw his Derry City side secure a European place with a 0-0 draw against Cork

Airtricity League Premier Division: Cork City 0 Derry City 0

CORK City were last night crowned SSE Airtricity League champions after playing out a dull goalless draw with Derry City.

The scoreless draw was also enough to secure European football next season for Kenny Shiels’ Candystripes.

The game had been set for Monday night but was called off due to the impending Storm Ophelia and went ahead despite one Turner’s Cross stand being closed due to the storm causing its roof to collapse yesterday morning.

The home side knew a point would suffice and the first half was accordingly a cagey affair, with chances few and far between.

Though the home side largely dominated possession, the best chances fell to the Candystripes.

On 29 minutes, Rory Patterson attempted to chip Mark McNulty in the Cork goal from just outside the area. His effort was audacious and very nearly came off, with McNulty tipping the ball over the bar.

Then just three minutes later, from a corner, Harry Monaghan headed a terrific chance over McNulty’s crossbar.

The half ended in frustration for John Caulfield’s team as they huffed and puffed with very little end product. Credit must go, however, to the Derry defence, who with Darren Cole in assured form, were rarely troubled.

The only moment of panic for them, with Cork largely reduced to pot shots from distance, was when Garry Buckley went down amid shouts for a penalty 10 minutes before the break.

The referee was, however, unimpressed.

On the resumption, Derry were once again comfortable and, had Stephen Beattie not been alert with a terrific interception on 65 minutes, Ronan Curtis might have given Derry the lead.

The game largely petered out after that, and with both sides apparently content to hold what they had, there was little goalmouth action