Uefa Europa Conference League first qualifying round, second leg
Derry City 1 HB Tórshavn 0 (agg: 1-0)
DERRY CIty got the job done to deservedly see off HB Tórshavn and continue their European adventure on Thursday evening.
Sadou Diallo's first-half header was enough for the Brandywell men to see off the battling Faroe Islands side.
In truth, Derry should have won this second leg more comfortably, but boss Ruaidhri Higgins will still be pleased that his side progressed to the next round. There they will face Finnish league leaders Kups, with the first leg next Thursday.
City made two changes from last week's first leg with Will Patching and Jamie McGonigle both coming into the starting line-up and Shane McEleney and Danny Mullen dropping to the bench.
As for the visitors they went with the same side, which battled hard to secure that scoreless draw.
The home side started on the front foot and certainly got the home support cheering them on, but Ronan Boyce and Jamie McGonigle, both went close in the early stages.
City again went close to breaking the deadlock on 12 minutes but Cameron McJannet's looping header had to be tipped over by Tórshavn goalkeeper Bjarti Mørk.
With their tails up Derry continued to push forward for the opening goal and minutes later Ben Doherty's left-wing cross found Paul McMullan, but his diving header was well off-target.
Derry deservedly took the lead on 23 minutes as Michael Duffy's left-wing corner found Diallo, who rose well to head home his first goal of the season.
Tórshavn had their first shot in anger just after the half-hour mark but Hanus Sorensen's long-range strike failed to trouble City net-minder Brian Maher.
Just before the break, McGonigle's stinging drive from the edge of the box was well gathered by Mørk, while Duffy's 20-yard volley whistled just wide, as the home side finished the half on the front foot.
Right on the stroke of half-time, another Duffy corner from the left caused problems for the visitors, but Cameron McJannet headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Derry were inches away from adding a second just after the break, but Ben Doherty's drive, which had Mørk well beaten, whistled just past the keeper's right-hand post.
Mørk made a big save to keep his side in the game on 57 minutes as the net-minder came off his line to deny Jamie McGonigle, after the striker had got in behind the Tórshavn defence.
Derry were unable to get that second goal, which meant that the visitors were always still in the tie and they went close to levelling things on 67 minutes but Dan Í Soylu's shot from the edge of the box was straight at Maher.
Maher had to make a massive save on 74 minutes as some neat passing by Tórshavn cut through Derry before Adrian Justinussen's shot from the right-hand angle was parried away by the City keeper.
While the visitors put a few high balls into the Derry penalty box, they never really created a clear-cut chance and the City faithful went home happy.
Derry City Maher, Boyce, Connolly, McJannet, Doherty; Diallo, Dummigan, Patching (P McEleney 66); McMullan (B Kavanagh 82), McGonigle (Mullen 77), Duffy.
HB Tórshavn Mørk, Davidsen, Askham (Dahi 90), Sorensen (Thomsen 90), Justinussen, Í Soylu (Praest 83), Samuelsen (Mohr 71), Borchers, Wardum, Berger (Hansen 71), Jónsson.
Referee Tomas Klima (Czech Republic)
