Sport

Martyn delivers for Derry

Derry City - 1 UCD - 0: National League Report and preview: Derry City earned their first points of the season at the Brandywell…

Fri May 02 2003 - 01:00

Derry City - 1 UCD - 0:National League Report and preview: Derry City earned their first points of the season at the Brandywell last night and, at the same time, consigned UCD to the basement position of the Premier division. And Derry can thank substitute Ciarán Martyn for this victory, his 64th minute goal deciding the issue.

Derry may have owned the ball in the first half but they lacked width on either flank and UCD defenders Niall Donnelly and Tony McDonnell were always in control. UCD, with Dessie Baker leading the attack on his debut, created the better chances before the break but Baker failed to hit the target in the seventh minute after Tony McDonnell had sent him clear.

But the former Shelbourne striker did well in the 35th minute when he got to the ball before Derry's debutante goalkeeper, David Forde but, fortunately for the home side, Mark McChrystal was on hand to whip the ball off his goal-line.

However, the major talking point in the first half centred on a decision by referee Damien Hancock not to award Derry what appeared a justified penalty in the 23th minute. Gary Beckett burst into the UCD penalty area where he appeared to have been upended by Donnelly.

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While many felt Hancock had signalled a spot-kick, there was uproar when he made it clear he had awarded a free-kick.

In the 45th minute Seán Hargan's shot on the turn was well saved by UCD goalkeeper, Patrick Jennings.

Jennings pulled off a superb save in the 61st minute when he pushed a Beckett effort from 25 yards around his post. Three minutes later Derry took control. A free by Seán Friars was pushed onto the crossbar by Jennings but Martyn, a former UCD midfielder, drove the rebound home from close range.

Derry appeared to grow in stature and in the 83rd minute a chip by Beckett saw Friars head the ball over the bar from 12 yards.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McLaughlin (Martyn, 58 mins), Clery, McChrystal, McCallion; McGlynn (Deery, 80 mins), Doherty, Hutton, Friars; Beckett, Hargan (Moran, 71 mins).

UCD: Jennings; Sullivan, Donnelly, McDonnell, Davey; J Martin, McNally, Griffin (Gallen, 87 mins.), O'Donnell (Finn, 68 mins.); Baker, R. Martin (R. Martin, 78 mins.).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).