Derry City beat Finn Harps for the second time in quick succession in extra-time to reach the EA Sports Cup semi-final for the second successive season.
Derry City 2 Finn Harps 1
Report by Shaun Keenan at The Brandywell.
Pictures by Joe Boland (North West Westpix)
A superb David Parkhouse brace for Derry’s second goal early in the first half of extra-time saw Declan Devine’s men progress into the next stage of the competition.
Harps, who were diabolical three days prior, looked to be on their way to a famous victory on the Lone Moor Road after Nathan Boyle gave them the lead after 53 minutes.
If anything, Ollie Horgan’s side were desperately unlucky to not see the game go to at least a penalty-shootout at the end.
The home side started far from their best in the opening minutes with Finn Harps applying early pressure following a heavy defeat on Foyleside on Friday night last.
Harps had big claims for a penalty after four minutes when the ball appeared to strike off the hand of Josh Kerr inside the penalty-area following a long throw by Colm Deasy but they were denied.
The deadlock looked like it was broken after 16 minutes when Ciaron Harkin, who scored a hat-trick against Harps on Friday night, saw his blistering effort from 20-yards dwindle past the post.
The impasse should have been broken by the Candystripes after 26 minutes when Barry McNamee unlocked the Harps defence through to Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, but the Colchester-loanee’s attempt to offload to Parkhouse was intercepted by Sam Todd.
The visitors had fashioned a couple of promising moments just prior to the breakthrough.
Harps suffered only their second defeat in six on Friday night when losing 4-0 to Derry City.
Ollie Horgan’s roster showed four changes with Mark McGinley, Niall Logue, Mikey Place, Nathan Boyle and Stephen Doherty all elevated to the starting XI.
After pedestrian opening half, the scoreline was broken when Harps hit the front on 54 minutes.
Nathan Boyle securing the goal against his former side when Colm Deasy lofted the ball across the 18-yard box and with the City defence at sea, Boyle steered into the bottom corner.
Until the reversal to Derry and Shamrock Rovers, Harps were unbeaten in four – taking eight points from those games having finally found a little rhythm.
And they were back to their best on the west bank of the Foyle as they forced Derry into a calamity of mistakes.
And for all of Harp’s attacking prowess, it was strong performances from three more centre-halves, Sam Todd, Niall Logue and Keith Cowan, throwing themselves to try and block every cross and shot, that also marked this performance.
Derry were, in many ways, architects of their own downfall here in normal time.
Declan Devine’s reshaped, youthful Derry side, that included three changes from Friday night, was lacking energy and Harps discovered that time on the ball wasn’t at a premium.
But any anxieties Horgan may have harboured about his team switching off, however, were realised in the 83rd minute.
Gianni Seraf, just on as a substitute proved an instant nuisance for Deasy on the right flank.
Seeing off the Harps full-back, the French forward swept an excellent cross into the path of emerging David Parkhouse, who couldn’t miss from three yards.
Unable to break the stalemate in normal time, the game went for another 30 minutes.
And with it, Derry found their rhythm and scampered on the counter-attack as Ciaran Coll played a long ball forward into the trail of Parkhouse.
It should have been fairly simple for McGinley in the Harps goals, but found acres from his touchline the goalkeeper was found out fairly quickly as Parkhouse pinched possession and bundled home.
With it looking dour for Harps having taken the lead, they almost responded perfectly.
Horgan saw his side have three excellent chances cleared off the line before the break in extra-time.
Keith Cowan and Mikey Place both saw efforts cleared off the line, while McAleer’s strike deflected off Toal before hitting the bar.
In the second half of extra-time, things went from bad to worse for Harps as Mark Coyle was booked for a second bookable offence and was sent for an early shower just when Harps looked to be on top.
From there, Derry was firmly in control and Harps failed to make an impact shown in the first period of extra-time.
Derry City: Nathan Gartside; Ciaran Coll (Jack Malone (106′), Ally Gilchrist, Josh Kerr (Conor McDermott 117′); Gerardo Bruna, Adrian Delap (Gianni Seraf 83′), Ciaron Harkin, Jamie McDonagh, Barry McNamee (Eoin Toal 104′); Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, David Parkhouse.
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Shane McNamee, Evan Tweed.
Finn Harps: Mark McGinley; Keith Cowan, Colm Deasy, Niall Logue, Daniel O’Reilly, Sam Todd; Stephen Doherty, Tony McNamee (90′), Caolan McAleer, Mikey Place; Nathan Boyle (Mark Coyle 72′), Liam Walsh.
Subs not used: Peter Burke, Darragh Elison, Ryan Finn, Mark Russell.
Referee: John McLoughlin
