Sport

Derry fail to don their scoring boots Setanta Sports Cup

It's advantage Linfield and Shelbourne for the Setanta Cup semi-final places from Group Two and the Belfast side will fancy their…

Tue Mar 28 2006 - 01:00

It's advantage Linfield and Shelbourne for the Setanta Cup semi-final places from Group Two and the Belfast side will fancy their chances of winning the group having secured a vital point at a blustery Brandywell last night.

And Linfield will have been relieved as Derry dominated the second half proceedings but despite this, Stephen Kenny's men failed to score that vital goal.

And they felt a bit agrieved they were not awarded a penalty in the first half. Derry's Paddy McCourt broke on the right flank before the ball was deflected wide at the expense of a corner. And following that corner Mark McChrystal attempted to head the ball back across the face of goal before Blues central midfielder, Michael Gault, appeared to make a clear contact with his arm. However, Dublin referee, Ian Stokes, refused to entertain Derry's vociferous claims for a penalty.

Linfield's only real chance of the first half came from Glenn Ferguson, whose first-time snapshot in the 23rd minute was parried wide by David Forde.

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With the home side now enjoying the benefit of the breeze, Derry forged two opportunities during the opening 10 minutes of the second half. Farren set Ciarán Martyn up but his low drive from 20 yards was easily gathered by Mannus, but the Linfield keeper produced a superb stop in the 54th minute.

A poor clearance from Murphy broke to Beckett and while he got power into his shot, the magnificent Mannus got a hand to the effort to clear the danger.

Derry kept pressing and went agonisingly close to taking the lead in the 60th minute. Martyn did well again to feed Farren and when the Donegal lad attempted to chip over Mannus' head, the ball crashed off the crossbar with the keeper back-peddling.

A deep Farren cross from the right saw O'Flynn race forward in the 83rd minute but the Cork man failed to get the telling touch and a glorious chance was lost.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Oman (Delaney, 90 mins), Hutton, McChrystal (O'Flynn, 74 mins); Cash (McHugh, 79 mins), Molloy, Martyn, McCourt; Beckett, Farren.

LINFIELD: Mannus; Ervin, Bailie, Murphy, McShane; Mouncey, Gault, Mulgrew, Kearney; Ferguson, Thompson.

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).