Ger Doherty denies Sligo in dramatic north-west derby

Sligo Rovers 0, Derry City 0: Derry City’s pursuit of the top two was halted by Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds in a scoreless yet absorbing SSE Premier Division fixture.

Derry City’s pursuit of the top two was halted by Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds in a scoreless yet absorbing SSE Premier Division fixture.

Sixth-placed Sligo were looking to extend an unbeaten home run, not having lost at The Showgrounds since the opening day of the season.

Derry, meanwhile, knew that a win would draw them level on points with second-placed Cork City.

A brisk first half ended scoreless but Sligo should have been in front.

Sligo’s top scorer Raffaele Cretaro was denied a shooting chance by the excellent Ryan McBride’s last gasp challenge in the 10th minute.

A wonderful double save from Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty denied Liam Martin and then Kieran Sadlier as Sligo looked certain to make the breakthrough after 35 minutes.

Derry forced four first-half corners but their best chance was a firm shot on target from Barry McNamee in the 42nd minute.

The away side almost took the lead against the run of play after 61 minutes but Ronan Curtis saw his flying volley deflected just wide. From the subsequent corner Niclas Vemmelund’s glancing goalbound header was cleared off the line by Sligo full-back Jimmy Keohane.

Sligo dominated the second period, with neat approach play, but failed to seriously trouble Doherty.

The influential Sadlier almost snatched a late winner for Sligo but his 88th-minute piledriver was just inches wide.

SLIGO ROVERS:

Schlingermann; Adebayo-Rowling, Peers, Boylan, Keohane; Russell, Roddan, Kearns; Sadlier, Cretaro, Martin

DERRY CITY:

Doherty; Jarvis, Vemmelund, McBride, McClean (Boyle 12); McCormack, McEneff, McNamee; Schubert, Patterson, Curtis (Daniels 87)

Referee:

Robert Rogers.