Simon Madden produced a heroic goal-line block in injury-time to deny Eamon Zayed and Derry City top spot as Dundalk took a well-earned point away with them following an intriguing 0-0 draw at The Brandywell on Friday evening. The Lilywhites captain – on his 50th straight start for the club – stopped a powerful volley from the league’s top scorer after a Daniel Lafferty header from a free-kick had come off the crossbar. That came after substitute David McDaid had shot wide of an empty goal with ten minutes to go. Dundalk too could have won it but, with their only clear-cut chance, Keith Ward was denied by Ger Doherty in the first half, while the home side also had chances in the opening 45, the Lilywhites holding firm to hold Derry scoreless for the first time in six games.
Hawkins blow
Dundalk manager Ian Foster made two changes to the team that defeated UCD seven days earlier as Nathan Murphy (toe) and Ross Gaynor (chest infection) were replaced by Mark Quigley, who returned from suspension, and Colin Hawkins, who came back into the side for the first time since the trip to Shamrock Rovers on 21 June. Carl McHugh went to left-back having played at centre-half against UCD. And Dundalk had to defend in the opening seconds as Derry attacked straight away, Peter Cherrie forced into a good save to push away a curling Patrick McEleney shot from just inside the area. The visitors settled after that and Mark Griffin’s hard work in attack gave him a chance to shoot from 20-yards, but his effort was saved low down by Doherty.
Ward chance
The Lilywhites were then hit with an injury blow as Hawkins’ return lasted just 15 minutes, with Nathan Murphy coming on and McHugh joining Dean Bennett at the heart of the defence. Just before the midway point of the first half, Dundalk could have been in front as Stewart Greacen’s mistake allowed in Ward, but the young midfielder was denied by the legs of Doherty. At the other end, Nathan Murphy cut out a dangerous pass before Dundalk attacked once more, Quigley and Ward combining to almost set up Griffin but the home No1 just got there to clear. On 28 minutes, Derry almost hit the front themselves. James McClean’s corner caused plenty of problems as it was headed back across the six-yard box but McHugh made a magnificent block, before the ball came out to Stephen McLaughlin whose low driven shot went wide.
Cherrie save
Moments later, a Lafferty free-kick from long-range was blocked by the two-man wall, with the ball falling to Ryan McBride whose low shot was well held by Cherrie. On 33 minutes, the Scot made the decision to come off his line as McGlynn closed in on a through-ball, and although the ex-Bohs man got past him, he forced him wide, with an attempted cross well blocked away by Ward. With both teams willing to attack when given the chance, the next arrived three minutes from half-time as a cross into the box fell to McClean whose snap-shot went narrowly off target. On the stroke of half-time, Derry almost hit the front as a McClean corner to the back post was met by McBride and Cherrie did brilliantly to push behind. The next corner eventually ended with McEleney shooting wide, before the last chance of the opening period fell to Quigley, his curling free-kick from 30-yards going over the bar.
Heroic Madden
On 50 minutes, a Derry attack was broke up, with Ward attempting to slide in Griffin but the home defence did well to clear. Moments later, Madden headed back to Cherrie but, as the ball went past him, the visiting No1 had to be alert to deny Zayed. Just past the hour mark, after pressure from the hosts, Dundalk put together a superb passage of play which ended with Quigley playing it to Ward but he couldn’t get enough power in it to trouble Doherty. On 65 minutes, McClean’s cross was headed onto the roof of the net by McEleney. Shortly after, within the space of 30 seconds, Dean Bennett twice denied the home side with brilliant clearances. On 75 minutes, Zayed got above Cherrie to meet a cross but Dundalk got away with it. The visitors had a real let-off ten minutes from time as Cherrie raced from his box to clear but he could only half do so, with McDaid shooting wide of an empty goal. And in injury-time, following a free-kick which Lafferty headed off the bar, Madden denied Zayed with a magnificent goal-line block from a powerful volley.
DERRY CITY FC: Gerard Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Stewart Greacen, Ryan McBride, Daniel Lafferty; Stephen McLaughlin (Kevin Deery HT), Barry Molloy ©, Patrick McEleney (David McDaid 78), James McClean; Gareth McGlynn, Eamon Zayed.
Booked: None.
Unused Subs: Eugene Ferry (GK), Emmett Friars, Ruairí Harkin, Michael McCrudden, Thomas McGonigle.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins (Nathan Murphy 15), Dean Bennett, Carl McHugh; Daniel Kearns, Stephen Maher, Greg Bolger, Keith Ward, Mark Quigley; Mark Griffin (Johnny Breen 78).
Booked: S Maher (31), M Quigley (90).
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK), Philip Duffy.
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).
