DUNDALK FC 0-0 DERRY CITY

Ross Munro helped Dundalk to set a new club record of consecutive home league clean-sheets but Brian Maher would ultimately produce the save of the night as title challengers Derry City held on for a scoreless draw at Oriel Park on Friday.

Dundalk have now not conceded in seven straight games on the Carrick Road, eclipsing the six recorded by the double-winning side of 2015, with over 660 minutes played since they last shipped a goal back on March 4th.

Munro was called into action as early as the second minute when he showed a strong hand to beat away Adam O’Reilly’s well-struck shot. The Scot then made up for his initial mistake midway through the first half when he got down smartly to deny Will Patching’s clever set-piece.

Dundalk, though, would go on to create the best of the opportunities from there, with Jamie Gullan’s strike bouncing into the ground and over the bar and Cami Elliott seeing a header tipped over by Maher before the break.

With a quarter-of-an-hour remaining, the Lilywhites thought they had found a breakthrough when Gullan hammered a rocket towards the top corner but Maher pulled off a simply stunning stop, pushing the ball out as the hosts prepared to celebrate.

Substitute Ryan O’Kane then rifled a shot from distance inches past the post with six minutes left on the clock, but for all Dundalk’s good work, they could have been undone soon after that when sub Ronan Boyce’s strike deflected just wide.

In his first home match in charge, Jon Daly made two changes to the team that lined out in the loss in Galway seven days earlier. Club captain John Mountney failed to recover from injury and Mayowa Animasahun was on the bench, as Hayden Muller and Elliott came into the starting XI. Teenagers Vinnie Leonard and Sam Case were included on the bench.

Derry almost hit the front inside two minutes when Paul McMullan slipped in O’Reilly on the right of the area but his shot was well stopped by Munro, giving the Scot early confidence. Derry were controlling much of the possession, with Dundalk happy to play on the counter.

Dundalk handed Derry an opportunity in the 23rd minute when Munro carried the ball outside his box, but the Nairn native redeemed himself when he got down well to push away Patching’s stylish free-kick from a central position.

On 28 minutes, Dundalk had their first clear opening. Gullan’s good hold-up play started a fast, flowing move which ended with Elliott’s cross falling to the home No9 but his strike from 12-yards bounced into the rubber and over the bar.

Derry continued to probe in the Dundalk final third. But it was the hosts who were the next to test the ‘keeper when KTF Housing Ltd Man of the Match Daryl Horgan, who was released by Paul Doyle down the right, crossed for Elliott whose header was tipped behind by Maher. From the corner, Muller headed over under pressure.

Four minutes before the break, Derry had a glorious opening to break the deadlock when McMullan delivered a pinpoint ball onto the head of Patrick Hoban but he could only direct his effort into the side-netting. At the other end, Horgan headed a Sam Durrant cross straight at Maher.

After the resumption, Michael Duffy and Durrant had shots at each end but both flew off target. With clear-cut chances hard to come by, Daly made a change approaching the hour-mark as Durrant was replaced by O’Kane.

Within moments, the home side really should have made it 1-0. Muller helped in robbing possession deep in Derry territory with Horgan picking up the ball and finding Doyle who in turn laid off to Gullan but he shot wildly over when well placed.

On 63 minutes, Dundalk’s loud appeals for a penalty were waved away after Gullan’s header across the six-yard box appeared to strike a hand. Then on 75 minutes, Dundalk thought they had the lead when Gullan unleashed a powerful shot from the ‘D’ which drew an outstanding stop from Maher, whose acrobatics would earn his team a point.

Derry responded to Dundalk’s threat by bringing on four players, including Patrick McEleney and Daniel Kelly, while Eoin Kenny was introduced for another cameo appearance for Dundalk.

On 84 minutes, O’Kane blasted a shot inches past the upright from range, and then Derry almost took the lead with a deflected Boyce shot that appeared to hit the woodwork on its way behind.

Both sides were looking for a winner in the closing stages, with Derry forcing corners, but Dundalk held firm to collect another point and make it seven straight clean-sheets at Oriel Park, to move to within two points of Drogheda United at the bottom of the table after the Boynesiders were beaten 2-0 by Shamrock Rovers.

DUNDALK FC: Ross Munro, Archie Davies, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Zak Bradshaw, Daryl Horgan, Hayden Muller, Paul Doyle, Sam Durrant (Ryan O’Kane 58), Jamie Gullan, Cami Elliott (Eoin Kenny 78). Subs not used: Seán Molloy (GK), Jamie Walker, Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, Luke Mulligan, Seán Keogh, Sam Case.

DERRY CITY: Brian Maher, Cameron Dummigan (Ronan Boyce 78), Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Ciaran Coll (Ben Doherty 78), Sadou Diallo (Daniel Kelly 78), Adam O’Reilly, Paul McMullan (Patrick McEleney 77), Will Patching, Michael Duffy (Danny Mullen 86), Patrick Hoban. Subs not used: Tadhg Ryan (GK), Ciaron Harkin, Cameron McJannet, Seán Kelly.

REFEREE: Daniel Murphy.

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