League Cup
Derry City 3
Finn Harps 0
Connor Sammon found his Brandywell scoring boots at the wrong time for Harps as Derry notched up their 1000th competitive goal on their way to another quarterfinal appearance.
Sammon’s first Brandywell goals paved the way to a surprisingly comfortable win over Finn Harps as Derry found the net for the first time in almost six hours of football.
It was a night when everything went right for City, with Mark McChrystal playing a full ninety minutes on his return from injury, while Kevin Deery also returned in defence.
Add to that an exceptional performance from Niall McGinn, including the youngster’s first goal for the club and it was understandably a very pleasing night for Stephen Kenny, who even lauded the condition of the playing surface.
The same could not be said for Paul Hegarty however, whose problems continue to grow after a seventh successive defeat in all competitions. Granted, Hegarty may not have been bothered by an extended run in this competition, but the manner of the defeat, and the goals conceded are certainly a cause for concern.
Hegarty made five changes to his team, but still the performance was a mere shadow of that which pushed Derry all the way in the league fixture in March.
For the first half hour, it threatened to be another fruitless night in front of goal as City’s efforts in the final third remained off kilter. That only encouraged Harps who threatened themselves when Kevin Ramsey was just inches from meeting a dangerous cross from Gerry Gill.
City responded and Kevin McHugh came close to finding the net when he headed just wide from an Aaron Callaghan cross. That sparked City’s first period of dominance and they came close again when McHugh laid the ball off for Barry Molloy, whose powerful
effort was deflected wide.
Gareth McGlynn failed to get good contact on a cross from Deery as City started to ask serious questions of the Harps defence. City persisted and finally made their breakthrough just after the half hour, although it was a gift of a goal from the Finn Harps defence.
Ex-City player Shaun Holmes dallied on the ball outside the area allowing Kevin McHugh to steal possession. The former Harps striker immediately delivered the perfect centre for Sammon who tapped in his first competitive goal at the Brandywell.
Hegarty, watching the game from the Glentoran stand, was understandably disgusted but he could do little as his team’s resolve visibly faded. City picked up on their opponents doubt and two minutes after the break, the game was put out of reach by McGinn, who cut inside and fired past Gavin Cullen from 20 yards; the winger’s first goal for the
club.
Before Harps could respond, it was three, as City’s goal scoring instincts finally returned.
McGlynn’s clever through ball sent McGinn clear only for Cullen to deflect the shot away. Owen Morrison was the beneficiary through and he returned the ball immediately to Sammon who nonchalantly scooped the ball past Cullen for his second and City’s 1000th competitive goal.