U.C.D 0 Derry City 1
The scoreline may only indicate a slender margin of victory, but Derry were totally dominant at Belfield last night, as they cruised through to the quarter finals of this season’s FAI Ford Cup. David McDaid nabbed the goal, but City once again saw a man sent off on their visit to Belfield Park.
City, playing for the third time in seven days, deployed McBride to do a man marking job on the dangerous Benson, with McDaid the lone striker for the Candystripes. City were on top right from the early stages with McDaid flashing a volley from ten yards out over the bar and then McGinley nearly caught by a speculative cross by Morrison.
Greacen had a powerful header cleared off the line by McCabe with McGinley beaten, and the keeper made a smart double save to deny McDaid. Stephen McLaughlin picked up a yellow card when he slipped whilst running at full tilt, whilst under pressure from the UCD defence. It was not the only dubious yellow card of the first half, with O’Conor booked for dissent, despite no apparent offence.
UCD were much more involved in the game after the break, when Devine was forced to withdraw McBride due to injury. Benson was much more influential and he messed the best chance of the game when he headed wide from four yards out. McDaid picked up a yellow for simulation in the box when he appears to go to ground under a slight touch from the keeper McGinley.
However the striker was to the hero when he nabbed the only goal. A corner was delivered to the back post by Madden and was met by Shane McEleney who headed back across the goal. The ball fell to McDaid who stabbed it home, past the despairing clutches of McGinley.
City looked comfortable but enjoyed a nervy last few moments when Greacen was dismissed for the second yellow. The decision produced furious protests from the Derry players, who were convinced that Buttimer had booked the wrong player. The card appeared to be for kicking the ball away, after a foul on Lyons. Assistant Douglas appeared to support the claims of the players and he spoke to referee Buttimer on two separate occasions, whilst a cluster of Derry players surrounded the officials to attempt to get them to change their mind. However the referee, Mr Buttimer, was not for changing his mind. To add to City frustration, he also booked Gerard Doherty.
However City were never troubled by a hard working but ultimately toothless home side and progressed to the last eight of the competition.
Derry dominated the game, with Gerard Doherty only forced into one save of note, late in the seconf
