Dundalk relegated as Derry keep pressure on at the top

Derry City got themselves back in the title race with the help of the returning Colm Whelan on a night when Dundalk were relegated from the Premier Division.

The striker - starting his first game in 889 days following the first of two ACL injuries - fortuitously put his side in the driving seat at Oriel Park when Danny Mullen's header deflected in off the 24-year-old.

While Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side had to weather a bit of a storm as Jon Daly’s side fought for a way back into the game, they finally put the result to bed 13 minutes from time when substitute Will Patching, on his 26th birthday, fired home from the spot to make it 2-0.

Having failed to win any of their previous five league fixtures, the win keeps Derry on the coattails of table-toppers Shelbourne and in with a chance still of a first league title since 1997.

For Dundalk, who have had a troubled year with multiple managers and ownership changes, the future continues to be uncertain but what is for sure is that their 16-year spell in the in the top flight is over.

The home side had the game’s first attempt after 12 minutes when Jamie Gullan turned at the edge of the box to get a shot away which was comfortable for Brian Maher.

Derry then took the lead with their first attempt four minutes later with Mullen’s header from Michael Duffy’s corner coming off the back of Whelan to send it past the despairing dive of Ross Munro.

Buoyed by the early lead, the visitors had two attempts in quick succession afterwards with Adam O’Reilly and Michael Duffy both having efforts go just wide.

They then passed up a glorious chance to double their lead on 27 minutes when Duffy’s teasing free-kick picked out the unmarked Mark Connolly, who headed over from point-blank range.

Either side of two further attempts from Whelan - the first of which he curled wide before firing tamely at Munro from inside the box - Dundalk had a couple of chances of their own to level.

Firstly, John Mountney glanced a header just over from Robbie Benson’s in-swinging free-kick before Gullan fired agonisingly across the face of goal and wide with only Maher to beat after breaking in on the left.

The Lilywhites would threaten again within two minutes of the restart when Daryl Horgan’s cross from the right saw Jad Hakiki get up to get a header on target which Maher was equal to.

Hayden Cann then kept the hosts in the game when he blocked Mullen’s header on the line a minute later before Sadou Diallo’s follow-up volley was pushed away by Munro.

There was then another let-off for Derry on 54 minutes when Hakiki got in behind their defence before beating Connolly only to be put off by a despairing late challenge from Boyce, who forced his effort wide.

Robbie Benson then met Horgan's corner four minutes later to get a powerful header away but it was blocked en-route to goal as the Candystripes defence lived a charmed life.

Derry did go close to a goal of their own on 70 minutes when a short corner routine saw Duffy get a shot away which deflected just wide.

The FAI Cup finalists should have doubled their lead five minutes later when Duffy broke down the left before squaring to the unmarked McMullan, whose first-time effort came off the leg of Munro and out for a corner.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

They did make sure of the result two minutes later though with birthday boy Patching dispatching a penalty to the net after Duffy had been fouled by Mayowa Animasahun.

Dundalk did go in search of a reply with substitute Norman Garbett forcing a save from Maher on 81 minutes but it was not enough to force a late revival.

It will be 10 years this Thursday since the Co Louth side won the first of five titles in six seasons as part of a glorious decade. It could be a long way back from here.

Dundalk: Ross Munro; John Mountney, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh (Mayowa Animasahun 72); Aodh Dervin, Koen Oostenbrink (Dara Keane 63), Daryl Horgan, Robbie Benson (Norman Garbett 78), Jad Hakiki (Ryan O’Kane 63); Jamie Gullan (Eoin Kenny 72).

Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly (Duncan Idehen 79), Shane McEleney, Andre Wisdom; Paul McMullan (Jacob Davenport 94), Adam O’Reilly, Sadou Diallo, Michael Duffy; Danny Mullen, Colm Whelan (Will Patching 64).

Referee: Gavin Colfer.