Dummigan hits goal of the season contender as Derry beat Drogs
Adam O'Reilly of Derry City celebrates with teammates, from left, Cameron Dummigan, Patrick McClean and James Olayinka during their side's victory over Drogheda. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Cameron Dummigan scored another goal of the season contender against Drogheda United as Derry City made a winning return to Brandywell Stadium and its new £1.4 million grass pitch.
The midfielder fired into the net from 25 yards midway through the first half to give Derry a deserved lead.
Adam O'Reilly added the finishing touches to Derry's sixth win of the season with a clinical strike from 12 yards after captain Michael Duffy set the Corkman up for his eighth Derry career goal.
The win moved sixth placed Derry seven points clear of the Boynesiders who have two games in hand over the Brandywell club.
Tiernan Lynch made one change from the team held by Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght last Monday night, replacing Kevin Dos Santos with James Olayinka.
The Derry boss named an inexperienced bench which included five teenagers - two of whom were 15 years old - due to injuries and a spate of player departures.
Derry made a bright start and when Olayinka burst forward into the penalty box, he scuffed his shot and Duffy got a touch with his outstretched foot but Luke Dennison made a crucial save three minutes in.
Former Arsenal youth Olayinka was in the thick of the action again on 25 minutes. Brandon Fleming crossed into a crowded box but Olayinka's volley from eight yards struck the crossbar.
Three minutes later Derry were in front. James McClean's corner kick was headed clear. It came to Dummigan in space and he took a touch on to his right foot and curled the ball into the top corner of the net - a sublime strike from 25 yards.
It was another goal of the season contender for the Lurgan man who recently picked up the goal of the month for May for his stunning strike against Dundalk.
Drogheda responded well but were unfortunate in the 35th minute when Jason Bucknor raced down the right and cut the ball back into the path of Thomas Oluwa whose ferocious strike hit the top of the crossbar.
Derry searched for a second goal early in the second half and came close when skipper Duffy curled a strike narrowly over the bar after the ball broke to the winger on the edge of the box from a corner.
In stoppage time, Barry Cotter raced toward goal from inside his own half. With Duffy supporting and only James Bolger to beat, the Derry fullback hit Drogheda's player with his attempted through ball, losing the chance.
Moments later Fleming found the run of Duffy who turned his man and played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of O'Reilly who fired past Dennison to clinch the win.
Beach 7, Cotter 6, Barr 7, P. McClean 7, Fleming 8; Dummigan 8, Olayinka 7, O'Reilly 8; J. McClean 7 (Markey 6, 68), Boyce 7, Duffy 8.
Dennison 6; Agbaje 6, Burney 6 (Bolger 6, 71), Keeley 6, Kane 7; Bucknor 7, Farrell 6, R. Brennan 6 (O'Brien 6, 59), Oluwa 6 (Godden 64), Kavanagh 6 (Kareem 6, 71); Doyle 5.
Alan Patchell (Dublin).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
