Arubi hits winner as Dundalk deepen Derry woes

Derry have now got seven games without a win

Fri, 29 May, 2026 - 22:08

James Rogers

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Dundalk 2 Derry City 1

Gbemi Arubi finally found the net at home as Dundalk piled the pressure on Derry City before the mid-season break.

The just turned 22-year-old had not scored at Oriel Park since opening the scoring in the Louth side’s 3-0 win over Finn Harps last October when Ciarán Kilduff’s side clinched the First Division title.

However, his close range finish on the hour mark proved to be the difference here, coming just a minute after Cameron Dummigan had cancelled out Daryl Horgan’s first half opener.

The victory opens up a seven point gap between the sides and piles further pressure on Tiernan Lynch, whose side have now gone seven games without a win for the second time this season with just four wins from 20 matches.

The Louth men started well on top and the pressure finally told on 20 minutes. Arubi flicked the ball down to Eoin Kenny, who played Horgan in behind Conor Barr before the former Republic of Ireland international slotted past Beach to the bottom right hand corner.

Lynch turned to his bench at half-time with Michael Duffy, Patrick McClean and Darragh Markey all introduced, but their equaliser on 59 minutes came from an unlikely source when Cameron Dummigan volleyed to the net off the underside of the crossbar following a partially cleared corner.

The home side’s response was almost instant as they retook the lead on the hour mark with another brilliant team goal. Tyreke Wilson released Horgan on the left with the 33-year-old’s first time cross turned home by Arubi.

DUNDALK: Minogue; JR Wilson, Cornwall, Burns; McDaid, Dervin (Groome 78), Tracey (Buckley 71), T Wilson; Kenny (Teahan 71), Horgan (Mullen 81); Arubi.

DERRY CITY: Beach; Cotter, Barr, Stott, Fleming; Dummigan (Clarke 64); Dos Santos (McClean HT), O’Reilly (Duffy HT) Olayinka, Doherty (Markey HT); Thomas (Boyce 56).

Referee: Oliver Moran.