FAI Cup Quarter-finalDerry City 1 Kildare County 0 Kildare County went close to securing a replay in Newbridge on Monday night when holding Derry City scoreless until the 89th minute at the Brandywell last night. However, their heroic goalkeeper John Connolly failed to get a hand to Eddie McCallion's 20-yard low drive and their fairytale run came to a cruel conclusion.
Iit was Kildare who had the first chance to break the deadlock after just seven minutes. Shane Harte played Darren McKenna in on the left flank and and his lob over goalkeeper Pat Jennings dropped agonisingly wide of the post. However, Derry moved up a gear with Davy Byrne bringing the best out of Connolly on two occasions. He did well to parry Byrne's powerful drive in the 26th minute.
In the 33rd minute, Derry striker Alan Murphy produced a superb shot on the turn from 25 yards, the ball crashing off the crossbar with Connolly beaten. Another long range effort from Byrne one minute before the break saw Connolly do well to block the shot.
It was much the same after the break with Harte forcing Jennings into a save in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, the home side should have broken the deadlock following a Byrne free-kick. The Dubliner floated the ball into the danger area and Seán Hargan, with a free header, directed his effort wide.
But the best chance of the half fell to Kildare's Shay Zellor in the 59th minute. The left winger raced through the home defence and with just Jennings to beat he sliced badly wide.
Derry's had a superb chance four minutes later. An incisive through ball from Eamon Doherty saw Ciarán Martyn scamper clear and while his powerful shot was on target, Connolly threw out a despairing hand to divert the ball for a corner.
The home side thought they had made the breakthrough in the 75th minute when Connolly managed to block Doherty's low drive, Hargan pouncing on the rebound to find the net but the 'goal' was ruled out for offside.
But Derry should have sealed the tie in the 83rd minute when substitute Michael Holt shot over from a good positions.
DERRY CITY: Jennings; Delaney, Hutton, McLaughlin; McCallion, Martyn, Byrne, Doherty, Hargan; Murphy; Beckett. Subs: Brennan for Delaney (half-time); Holt for Murphy (68); McGlynn for Byrne (84)
KILDARE COUNTY: Connolly; G O'Brien, Byrne, Kenny, K O'Brien; Zellor, O'Connor, Griffin, Harte; McKenna, Reilly. Subs: Ryan for Reilly (79); Byrne for K O'Brien (90).
Referee: Eddie Barr (Dublin).
