Students hold Derry

Derry City 0 UCD 0: UCD's impressive record at the Brandywell continued last night.

 Having ended Derry's FAI Cup hopes a few weeks ago at this venue, manager Pete Mahon will be delighted to have taken a point which will ease relegation worries.

In a disappointing match, Derry opted for a new 4-3-3 system but, having lost both Paddy McCourt and Ken Oman during the first half to injury, the home side struggled in the vital areas.

Before McCourt limped off in the 25th minute, he went close to breaking the deadlock but his angled shot sailed over the crossbar. Three minutes later Kevin Deery failed to get a touch to Gareth McGlynn's low cross.

UCD's only chance in the opening period arrived in the 40th minute when Conor Sammon's volley was blocked by Derry goalkeeper Pat Jennings.

Kevin McHugh forced UCD goalkeeper Darren Quigley into a save in the 51st minute.

UCD's Alan Mahon drilled a low shot in the 70th minute but Jennings got down well to save.

With just one minute remaining the students could have stolen the points when Sammon worked his way through but Peter Hutton denied him with a superb tackle.

DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Hutton, Oman (Sharkey, 35 mins), McCallion; Molloy, Martyn, Higgins (Farren, 76 mins); McGlynn, McHugh, McCourt (McCafferty, 25 mins).

UCD: Quigley; Mahon, McNally, Kenna, Gallagher; Byrne, King (Bolger, 68 mins), McDonnell (McMillan, 87 mins), Finn (Purcell, 84 mins), McWalter; Sammon.

Referee: H Whoriskey (Meath).

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times