Setanta Cup/ Glentoran 0 Derry City 1:Pat Fenlon got his Derry City career off to a winning start in the Setanta Cup last night in Belfast, but the Dubliner will have had mixed emotions as he was ordered from the dugout in the 37th minute.
The new Brandywell boss got involved in an altercation with Glentoran assistant manager Andy Mathieson following a tackle by Colin Nixon on Pat McCourt, and referee Alan Black ordered both men off.
But that will have little effect on the diminutive Dubliner who watched his side clearly move up a gear after the break.
And while they may have owned the ball in the second half, Derry had to wait until the 86th minute before securing three valuable away points.
Kevin McHugh, who was introduced as a first-half substitute following an injury to Karl Bermingham, produced a superb strike to end this contest.
Having gained possession of the ball from the outstanding McCourt, he worked his way along the edge of the Glentoran penalty area before his diagonal strike crashed into the net.
And it was a thoroughly deserved win for Derry who dominated the scoring chances yet always seemed to direct the ball at the body of Glentoran goalkeeper Elliott Morris.
GLENTORAN: Morris; Nixon, Leeman, Ward, Neill (McMenamin, 87 mins); McCann, Fitzgerald, Berry, Hill (Browne, 89 mins); Hamilton, Halliday.
DERRY CITY: Jennings; Rogers, Kelly, Oman, Hargan; Deery, Molloy, Martyn, McCourt (McGlynn, 87 mins); Bermingham (McHugh, 43 mins), Farren.
Referee: Alan Black(Antrim)
