McDaid’s late winner puts Derry top

DERRY CITY returned to the summit of the Premier Division table last night, but they found UCD a tough nut to crack at the Brandywell.

Martin Russell’s youngsters stunned the big Brandywell crowd when they broke the deadlock in the 17th minute.

And it was a superb move which fashioned that goal, the ball accurately passed through four players before striker Graham Rusk drove it home.

But that strike served only to spark life into the home side, with Ruaidhri Higgins, Patrick McEleney and Stewart Greacen all going close to leveling in the space of 10 minutes.

Derry continued to press, with Higgins heading wide when well placed.

Gareth McGlynn entered the fray at the break for Derry, the winger returning after a six weeks injury lay-off.

After the break, UCD keeper Gerard Barron earned his corn when producing two top-class saves.

First, he dived full stretch to parry a Patrick McEleney shot wide and minutes later he dived low to stop Kevin Deery’s effort from just inside the box.

However, the sustained pressure finally paid off in the 70th minute when Barry Molloy fed Eamon Zayed and he laid the ball back into the path of Deery who finished with aplomb.

Eight minutes from the end, Derry pulled the game out of the fire when substitute David McDaid netted the winner, having entered the fray minutes earlier.

Barry Molloy worked his way to the byline and his low centre was sidefooted home by the young striker from close range.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion (McCallion, h-t), S. McEleney, Greacen, Lafferty; Deery, Molloy, Higgins, McLaughlin; P. McEleney, Zayed.

UCD: Barron; Douglas, D. O’Connor, Boyle, Russell; Marshall (Lloyd, 71), Creevy, Corry, P. O’Connor; Rusk (Belhout, h-t).

Referee: D. Tomney (Dublin) .