Doherty keeps a cool head to seal Derry’s first win of campaign
GERARD Doherty saved a late penalty as Derry City picked up their first win of the season at Dalymount Park, defeating Bohemians 1-0.
The Candystripes captain dived low to his right to parry Eoghan Stokes’ spot-kick on 85 minutes to ensure that Derry left Dublin with three points thanks to Ronan Curtis’ second-half goal.
The first real threat from Derry came on 22 minutes when a sweeping ball forward from Aaron McEneff sent Curtis through, but his touch was too heavy.
Curtis then should have had the opening goal on 28 minutes after McEneff again picked him out, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Shane Supple.
That save from Supple was bettered by Doherty 10 minutes later as incredible play by Paddy Kavanagh saw the Bohs man pick the ball out of the air before curling in an incredible pass to send Stokes through on goal.
The Derry defenders were left trailing, but their captain came to their rescue with a brave block.
Derry passed up a huge chance on 54 minutes when Rory Hale sent Rory Patterson through, but the shot lacked conviction.
But Derry had the goal they wanted just past the hour mark when Curtis did brilliantly to win a corner. When Nicky Low swung it in, Curtis drilled the ball past Supple at the back post.
Bohemians were awarded a penalty with just five minutes remaining after Conor McDermott’s challenge on Kevin Devaney. The Derry players protested the decision but they need not have worried as Doherty dived to his right to parry Stokes’ spot-kick before the ball was cleared.
Bohs pressed on but it was Derry who almost scored again, but Ben Doherty’s rasping effort hit the crossbar.
BOHEMIANS: Supple, Pender, Leahy, Casey, Cornwall, Ward (Lunney, 68 mins), Devaney, Kavanagh (Moore, 81 mins), Brennan (D Watts, 72 mins), Buckley, Stokes. DERRY CITY: G Doherty, McEneff, McDonagh (McDermott, 61 mins), Hale, Curtis, Patterson, Toal, Cole, B Doherty, Logue, Low.
Referee: R Harvey.