Top of the League and We're Having A Laugh!!

What a night! From red cards to red faces and some red mist for good measure. This game had absolutely everything!

A poor morning turned into a beautiful evening as the sun broke out over Turners Cross for the crucial top of the table clash. With the thoughts of the Revenue in the back of our minds we found our spots in the shed for what was sure to be a low scoring game. We needed at least a point to go top, albeit temporarily and with a good few of our big players injured it was a lot more complicated then it seemed.

Pre match preparation included getting the flags together, reading the programme and being beaten to a pulp by a 7 year old (Which is now on youtube, thank you John Pittaway!)
Anyway, back to more pressing matters and we started on the back foot. A cross in from Kevin Deery found Sammy Morrow unmarked just inside the box but Connor got down well to make a good save. His former Drogheda team-mate Faz Kuduzovic almost scored in the 15^th min, Denis Behan was pulled down in the box (Which was a penalty I may add) and from the loose ball the Bosnian just shot wide.

Derry then had a golden opportunity and their best of the night by a long way. Morrow put in a good ball for Mark Farren in the six yard box and his powerful header was exquisitely tipped over the bar by the diving Dan Connor, soon winning his way back into the good books of City supporters.

They were made to pay for their miss as with 5 minutes to go in the half, a free kick from the right was headed across goal by Greg O’Halloran, and with an open goal beckoning Dan Murray headed it into the net. That sparked wild celebration in the shed. ‘WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE’ rang out in the chilly May air. Half time came and went and it seemed like the buzz was back in a club that could be gone by the end of the week. Things went from good to better as Mark McChrystal was sent off. Taking down Colin Healy late after a City break earned the Derry native his second yellow and a dressing down from the City faithful.

This rallied Derry, and City lacked the momentum they had in the first period. But the Foylesiders couldn’t get past a resilient City defence (Patrick Sullivan take a bow). City lost two more players to injury, Latvian international Robert Mežeckis and Kerryman Denis Behan the latest to join the waiting list for the treatment table. In their place came Tim Kiely and winter signing Stephen O’Donnell. Kiely was poor on the left but following the switch of sides performed brilliantly, working his socks off and helping out all over the pitch. O’Donnell also played well before he had a nighmare incident, sent off on his City début for dissent towards the linesman. Declan Hanney take a bow, typical for an LOI referee to ruin a special moment for a nonchalant moment.
Poor referee’s aside it was a huge win and one my personal favourites, next for the Leesiders is an away trip to ‘south Dublin’ outfit Bray Wanderers. Top of the League and we’re havin’ a laugh!!

The night wasn’t over though, it was onto the Evergreen pub to contest the first ever FORAS quiz. A huge turnout, a generous donation*, and some great sponsorship ensure over €3,000 was collected for safe keeping in the ongoing fight to keep our club alive. A great night was had and well done to all involved in organising, we didn’t win but on the plus side a top 10 finish was nothing to laugh at!

*Many thanks to the members of the Queens University Derry City Supporters Club who were unable to make the quiz but still donated the money for a few teams, sometimes love-ins are good things!!