Dane Massey breaks Derry City hearts on Valentine's Day at Oriel Park

DANE MASSEY broke Derry City hearts on Valentine's Day at Oriel Park as the defender fired home the winning goal late in the second half to give champions, Dundalk an opening day victory.

It was the Lilywhites' first opening day win since 2017 but they had to dig deep to shake off the challenge from a new-look Candy Stripes outfit.

Debutante striker, Tim Nilsen had Derry's best chance of the match on 55 minutes but was denied at close range by a great save from Gary Rogers.

Daniel Kelly rattled the City crossbar during a dominant Dundalk spell while Peter Cherrie produced a stunning save to tip new Dundalk signing, Cammy Smith's long range strike over the bar.

Declan Devine will be hugely frustrated to have conceded the game's only goal from a corner kick with 11 minutes to go as Massey swept the ball into the net from 12 yards from Jordan Flores' set-piece.

Devine had handed starts to five of his new signings with Danny Lupano, Conor Clifford, Walter Figueira and Tim Nilsen all making their first competitive starts while Conor McCormack made his second debut for the club.

Former Candy Stripe, Greg Sloggett lined up against his former club in the centre of the Dundalk midfield alongside, Lilywhites skipper, Chris Shields who signed a new deal with the club yesterday.

Vinny Perth also gave Scottish attacker, Cammy Smith his debut for the club but the champions had a familiar look about them as they began the defence of the SSE Airtricity League title.

It was a promising start from the visitors as Nilsen forced a corner kick in the opening minute. And when McDonagh delivered to the edge of the box, Ciaran Coll attempted the volley but fired harmlessly wide.

Dundalk's Sean Gannon was allowed time to whip in his cross 60 seconds later and Hoban rose above his man but headed over.

Derry had the home side penned in with a succession of corners and while there was plenty of movement in the box they had Dundalk worried but ultimately they came to nothing.

Dundalk broke and a ball down the right wing was mistimed by Gilchrist and Hoban got in behind the City defence. His cut-back at the near post was intercepted and Toal eventually cleared the danger but Derry looked rocked.

Dundalk kept it alive and when Massey was played into space inside the penalty area on nine minutes, the left back went down theatrically as McDonagh closed in but the referee, Neil Doyle, quite rightly waved play on.

McDonagh attempted an ambitious effort from a 35 yard free-kick but it bounced kindly into the hands of Gary Rogers on 24 minutes.

Nilsen threatened to get in on goal as he took a touch past Andy Boyle, leaving the centre half in his wake but Dan Cleary quickly closed down the Norwegian's shot.

Derry continued to press and Nilsen was unable to control Coll's inswinging ball from deep on the left flank and McDonagh picked up the loose ball before firing into the side netting.

Michael Duffy showed brilliant skill to get past Lupano on the edge of the box before finding Gannon free at the far post but the Dundalk right-back miscontrolled and the chance was lost on 33 minutes.

Hoban's powerful header from a corner kick was deflected off the back of Nilsen and went narrowly over the crossbar three minutes later as Dundalk began to get a hold on the game.

On the stroke of half-time Duffy's corner was headed narrowly over the bar by Hoban and Derry will have been content to go in at the break with the match scoreless.

Dundalk perhaps had the better of the chances but there was little between the two teams as they slowly began to shake off the ring rust.

McDonagh brought down a crossfield pass from Clifford with a sublime touch before stealing a yard on Massey at the start of the second half. The winger tried to catch Rogers off guard with a first time strike which bounced across the face of goal and wide.

At the other end Duffy's cross dropped kindly to Daniel Kelly in space on the edge of the box and his well struck shot from 20 yards sailed just the wrong side of the post.

Kelly was getting closer and when Derry failed to clear the danger the winger rattled the crossbar with a terrific strike from a little further but this time on 50 minutes.

Rogers saved superbly at point blank range to deny Nilsen a debut goal on 55 minutes following a superb move. McDonagh found the City striker with a brilliant cross but the Norwegian's left footed effort at the back post was stopped by the hand of the Dundalk keeper.

The game sparked into life and Cleary and Hoban both had chances which were soaked up by a desperate Derry defence.

Clifford then gifted Dundalk possession with a dangerous attempted backpass to Cherrie and as Kelly raced through the centre with the Derry keeper on the backfoot. City skipper McCormack came to the rescue as he narrowed the angle before taking the ball off the toe of the pacey winger.

Cherrie then tipped over Scotsman, Smith's long range efforts which looked destined for the top corner on the hour mark. It was a stunning save from the Scotsman!

Duffy cut inside on 70 minutes onto his right foot before firing his shot low towards goal but Cherrie was equal to it.

Gannon found himself in behind Coll moments later but the Derry left-back recovered superbly as he got a vital touch to take it away from the Dundalk defender who went down looking for a penalty.

Derry were punished from substitute, Jordan Flores' 79th minute corner kick which caught the visiting defence napping and Massey swept it home with his left-foot. It was cruel blow for City.

Derry pressed for an equaliser during four minutes of added time but the nearest they came was when Nilsen flicked on the ball for Jack Malone who knew little about it as it found its way into the hands of Rogers.

So not the start Devine will have wanted but plenty of encouraging signs for the Candy Stripes who haven't won at Oriel Park in 14 attempts and counting.

Dundalk: G. Rogers; S. Gannon, A. Boyle, D. Cleary, D. Massey; D. Kelly (S. Hoare 87), G. Sloggett (J. Flores 72), C. Shields, M. Duffy; C. Smith (W. Patching 75); P. Hoban; Subs Not Used - A. McCarey; B. Gartland, D. Leahy, L. Lotefa.

Derry City: P. Cherrie; D. Lupano, E. Toal, A. Gilchrist, C. Coll; J. McDonagh, C. McCormack, C. Harkin (S. Mallon 83), C. Clifford (J. Malone 63), W. Figueria (A. Liddle 77); T. Nilsen; Subs Not Used - N. Gartside, C. Horgan, M. Bakayoko, M. McChrystal.

Referee - Neil Doyle (Dublin.

Attendance: 3,156.