Sensational Duffy goal wins it as Derry City sign off from Brandywell with victory

MICHAEL Duffy’s sensational winning goal against his former club Dundalk ensured his best ever goalscoring return for Derry City as the Candy Stripes ended their Brandywell campaign with another impressive victory.

Duffy won the battle of the PFAI ‘Player of the Year’ nominees on the night against the man he replaced at Dundalk back in 2017 Daryl Horgan as the City skipper took his tally to 17 goals for the season with that winning strike. The winger’s previous best was 16 back in 2014!

Since returning to Brandywell and the stunning new hybrid pitch at the end of June, Derry have won seven of their nine matches and this win

was a fourth in their last five matches as they start to churn through the gears in the lead-up to the FAI Cup Final on November 8th.

James Clarke opened the scoring for the Candy Stripes on 13 minutes with a close range strike - his seventh of the season.

Duffy finished a brilliant team goal to give Derry a two-goal cushion on 71 minutes after a lovely flick by Darragh Burns – a move started by the returning Darragh Markey.

Dundalk fought back and Brandon Fleming cleared Ronan Teahan's strike off the line before sub Shane Tracey pulled one back with a stunning effort from distance.

Derry held firm and Mark Connolly has guided the team to eight wins from 12 fixtures in all competitions.

It was the fifth meeting between the teams this season, the previous four clashes produced 17 goals!

Dundalk's last visit to Foyleside was the 4-2 defeat in the FAI Cup quarter-final against Derry who were hoping to give their supporters something to sing about before next month's cup final.

Brian Maher was back in the starting line-up for the first time since August 21st, as he continues his recovery from a troublesome ankle injury.

Duffy was also back in the fold alongside Adam O'Reilly after shaking off knocks as Connolly made three changes from the team which ended St Pat's title challenge on Foyleside last Monday night.

Derry hit the front on 13 minutes when Clarke eventually fired in from close range. The frontman breezed through the Dundalk defence after a lovely build-up play but couldn't get enough purchase on his strike.

The ball broke to Ellis Chapman and his strike was saved by Enda Minogue. The rebound fell kindly to Chapman and his curling effort was cleared off the line by Vasenin but fell to the feet of Clarke, who made no mistake, scoring his seventh goal of the season.

Dundalk were all at sea and when Duffy played a one-two with Fleming, the Derry fullback fired towards goal from close range, but Minogue beat it away.

Clarke and Duffy both had follow-up attempts from close range when Dundalk failed to clear their lines but the visitors somehow survived

Dundalk were struggling to contain their hosts but did have their first effort on target on 25 minutes when Aodh Dervin tred his luck from distance but Maher gathered cleanly.

Horgan found space to run into moments later and with the Derry defence retreating the Galwegian fired narrowly over.

Trevor Clarke's attempt on the half volley was turned over acrobatically by Maher on 38 minutes.

Dundalk were enjoying a promising spell, and Tim Grivosti should've done better when heading narrowly over the bar from another corner.

Derry were struggling to get out and Ronan Teahan turned his man on the penalty spot. His poked effort looked destined for the bottom corner but deflected just wide of the post for a corner.

Minogue beat away Duffy's curling free-kick from the edge of the box at his near post at the start of the second half.

Chapman slotted a lovely pass through to Clarke but his side-footed effort was saved by Minnogue who advanced quickly off his line on the hour mark.

Derry doubled their lead on 71 minutes with a sensational team goal finished emphatically by Duffy for his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.

Substitute Darragh Markey drove forward with the ball before finding the run of Burns. The Dubliner flicked the ball into the path of Duffy who fired past Minogue into the bottom corner.

Duffy's goal ensured he's Derry's highest ever scorer against Dundalk with seven goals, overtaking club legend Liam Coyle.

Dundalk weren't finished just yet as Daryl Horgan refused to be upstaged by his rival for the player of the year accolade.

The midfielder raced down the left flank and crossed low towards the back post to find Teahan whose shot was cleared off the line superbly by Brandon Fleming.

Dundalk halved the deficit with 10 minutes to go with a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty area from Shane Tracey's right boot.

It was too little too late for Dundalk and while youngster Terence Doherty came close with an ambitious long range strike towards the end, Derry had done enough for a second consecutive home victory this week.

They finish the season in Sligo next week as they continue preparations for the Aviva showpiece.

Derry City: Maher; Dummigan (Barr 87), Stott, McClean, Fleming; Twisk, Chapman, O'Reilly (Markey 67) ; Burns (Dos Santos 74), Clarke (Doherty 87), Duffy (Whyte 74). Dundalk: Minogue, Burns, Grivosti, Dervin, Horgan, Teahan, Clarke (Dillon 69), Vassenin (Cornwall 56),Buckley (Tracey 69), Wilson (Warren 69), McDaid (Groome 56).

Referee: Marc Lynch