Patterson Pounces on Blarney Blunders
A hat-trick from Rory Patterson and a late goal from Ryan Curran saw reigning champions Derry City through the first hurdle against a Blarney side that were far more competitive than the scoreline suggested. Despite holding the Candystripes to a single goal defecit for 85 minutes, and having a great chance to tie the game up themselves, the Munster Senior League First Division side couldn't grab and equaliser and late goals saw a Derry side, managed on the day by Paul Hegarty, go through.
A windy day in O'Shea park saw a minute's applause for former Cork City manager Noel O'Mahony who passed away Thursday night. The strong breeze, which couldn't sit still, made playing attractive football very difficult, and both sides resorted to the long ball during early impressions. Michael Rafter had two near-identical turning volleys go over the crossbar on the quarter hour mark, before smart Steven Gahan save s denied Patterson twice, holding onto the ball well the second time in the face of pressure from Rafter. Patterson again was involved minutes later with Derry exploiting the flanks, and a dangerous Patrick McEleney cross to the near post saw the in-form striker nip in but couldn't keep his deflection underneath the Blarney bar.
Derry had the lions share of possession, territory and chances, and Rafter had a header go wide before slack defending at the back post saw Kevin Deery attempt a diving header that was as comical as it was ineffectual. On the half hour mark Rafter had a shot which swerved late and looked to be troubling Gahan, but the tall United net-minder readjusted himself well to save. He then went down brilliantly to his left hand side to deny a bouncing Rafter shot that looked destined for the goal.
Blarney were struggling to gain any kind of foothold in the game, but despite late efforts from Stuart Greacen and Simon Madden, they held on to parity going into the break.
The home side actually started the second half better, and a header saw Gerard Doherty called into action for the first time, making a smart stop down to his bottom right hand side. United seemed to be finding their feet in the opening exchanges, and looked dangerous going forward as the Candystripes themselves had to soak up some pressure.
This was released in the 53rd minute when the away side won a freekick in a dangerous position. Barry McNamee, who had flown to Cork that morning from Denmark after playing a half with the Irish u21s on Friday night, swung in a searching cross, and it was Patterson who found it at the edge of the six yard box, powering home a header.
The hosts were lucky not to be two down in as many minutes, when Gahan showed ice-hockey reflexes to sprawl and get a strong wrist to Paddy Kavanagh's vicious volley. The goalkeeper was left helpless a few minutes later, but thankfully for the home side Michael Rafter's shot flew just over the crossbar. Rafter again saw his shot go over, before substitute Michael Duffy saw himself through in on goal and did all he could to double Derry's advantage, but somehow the United 'keeper managed to stretch out his left hand and paw the ball onto the crossbar. United then had their best chance of equalising, when Shane Stuart was through in on goal, but his left foot shot just didn't have the required curl and flashed just past of a despairing Doherty's right hand post.
Blarney were living dangerously still and were lucky not to have seen their heroic goalkeeper sent off after a collision with Rafter, who had thought he had finally managed to put the ball in the back of the net. The Tipperary man soon came off without a goal to his name, and predictably, his replacement Ryan Curran did just that moments after coming on the pitch. Fantastic work from McEleney again found Curran at the back post, and despite a magnificant save from Gahan, the Derry striker managed to poke the ball home on his back and secure a third round berth for the Candystripes.
Late goals are a given in games in the Rebel County; Cork City and Cobh Ramblers have both seen plenty of late goals this season, and Blarney United can be the latest team added to this list. After Curran's goal five minutes before the end, the home side fell apart, sensing the tie was dead and buried. With the form that Rory Patterson has been in, it was an invitation for the former Plymouth striker to open an early lead on the top scorer table. Sensing Steven Gahan off his line, Patterson from 30 yards out managed to guide the ball past his despairing dive. Then moments later the Strabane native took a high ball, swivelled past the defender and launched a rocket into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
There was still time for Doherty to produce a top class save to deny Stuart's drive, leaping to his left and turning the ball around the post. It was far from what a competitive Blarney United side deserved, but showed the true gulf in class between these teams, and when Gahan was announced as Man of the Match, it further solidified the fragile nature of the first half parity. Despite the result the Munster Senior League side can be proud of their display and their season, which saw them gain promotion and win the First Division cup title.
For Derry meanwhile, a trip to Tolka Park awaits in a week's time, where Declan Devine will regain control of the reigns as the Candystripes look to overtake Sligo Rovers into the second place spot of the Airtricity League. A 4-0 win and no injuries means they will return North feeling satisfied with their weekend's work.
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