Rovers victorious after end-to-end encounter
Tuesday March 09 2010
ST. JOSEPH'S 1 DERRY ROVERS 3: ATTACKING RIGHT from the start St. Josephs alarmed a strangely hesitant Derry defence which failed to attend to Colin Doran who got on the end of a Glen Doyle pass to beat the advancing keeper on five minutes.
It was all St. Josephs during the following exchanges but Derry keeper Padraig Hickey made a crucial save on eleven minutes to prevent the St. Josephs sharpshooter from doubling the home advantage.
The Saints believed they were a score away from wrapping up the tie and with the Derry defence occasionally caught in neutral gear that score always seemed likely. But when another Saints attack broke down it was the home side who failed to find a reverse gear as Peter Brennan led a charge out of his half before releasing to Adam Kenny who return pass into space behind the St. Josephs defence allowed Peter Brennan to equalise on 17 minutes.
The following exchanges were typical cup-tie, end to end with both defences solid until Derry's striking totems combining with Peter Brennan's tidy finish putting Derry into the lead on 26 minutes.
Always playing constructive and patient football, St. Josephs were always capable of unlocking the Derry defence with Padraig Hickey making another excellent save to preserve their advantage on the half hour.
When another Saints attack broke down Derry's Ed O'Leary produced a defence-splitting pass which allowed Adam Kenny to finish in style on 33 minutes.
The next score was always going to be crucial with both defences determined to keep chances to the minimum.
Derry's Peter Brennan extracted the save of the game from the St. Josephs keeper within minutes of the resumption but gradually the draining effect of Derry's first half efforts began to catch up on them with St. Josephs beginning to control midfield but were unable to break down a resolute defence and the excellent keeping of Padraig Hickey.
Despite Adam Kenny's late penalty miss, Derry were winners thanks to the efforts of Peter Brennan, Ritchie Sinnott, Padraig Hickey and Eddie O'Leary. Best for St. Josephs included J P Moore, Glen and Evan Doyle.
