Doherty inspires Derry’s smash-and-grab raid

GOALKEEPER Gerard Doherty broke Sligo Rovers’ hearts at the Showgrounds as Derry booked their place in the final with a smashand-grab victory.

Rory Hale scored the only goal of the game, but Doherty was Derry’s real hero, making three sublime saves to keep Sligo at bay.

Sligo, who beat Derry in the league last Friday, started well and Lewis Morrison twice came close to putting them ahead before Derry took the lead against the run of play after 24 minutes.

The goal was a bit special as Hale controlled a pass from his brother, Ronan, at the edge of the box and curled a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney into the top corner of the net.

Rovers thought they had levelled things up before the break when Mikey Drennan’s flick-on from Regan Donelon’s free-kick was destined for the net before Doherty made a fingertip save.

Rovers brought Raffaele Cretaro off the bench as they tried to force a way back into the tie and he almost found the net on 70 minutes, but his closerange effort was brilliantly palmed away by Doherty.

The Derry stopper then pulled off another superb save with three minutes left to deny Cretaro again after Drennan had set up the chance.

SLIGO ROVERS - Beeney, Callan-McFadden, Mahon, McClean, Twardek, Cawley, Lynch, McCabe, Donelon (McAleer 85), Drennan, Morrison (Cretaro 60).

DERRY CITY – G Doherty, McDermott (Delap 80), Seaborne, McHattie, Fisk (McBride 89), Ronan Hale, Splaine, McEneff, B Doherty, Shiels, Rory Hale.

REF – G Kelly (Cork).