DERRY City took a massive step to securing third spot in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division following a comfortable win over Limerick last night.
First-half goals from Barry McNamee and Lukas Schubert helped them on their way, before substitute Ben Doherty sealed the points.
The Candy Stripes got off to the perfect start as they went in front on 32 seconds.
Barry McNamee pounced on Joe Crowe’s back-pass, before rounding Limerick keeper Brendan Clarke and side footing home.
City added a second on eight minutes as Lukas Schubert turned Rory Patterson’s goal-bound strike past a frustrated Clarke from six yards.
Derry continued to press forward looking for more goals but Clarke made two super saves to deny both Ronan Curtis and Aaron McEneff.
Limerick boss Neil McDonald tried to inject some life into his side by making a double change on 58 minutes with John O’Flynn and Bastien Hery replacing Rodrigo Tosi and Henry Cameron and those changes worked as they had big calls for a penalty moments later.
Chiedozie Ogbene seemed to be upended inside the box by City defender Darren Cole, but referee Damien MacGraith waved play on, much to the frustration of the Limerick’s bench.
Derry should have added a third on 65 minutes but Patterson blasted over from 12 yards after Schubert’s cut-back had picked out the striker.
Derry did add a third on 85 minutes when Dean Clarke got himself in all sorts of bother inside his own six-yard box and the alert Ben Doherty was on hand to fire home the loose ball.
Speaking after the win, Shiels expressed his satisfaction at the result and the fact that the crowd will have gone away entertained
“It was a good performance. We managed the game well at times, we entertained at time and we were a bit laborious at times. I just wanted to make people happy on a Sunday evening, that is very high on my list”
“The players know that. We play with panache, sometimes a little bit of arrogance”
The manager admitted that the dream start of two goals in the opening ten minutes was not something that he had planned for, but that it brought its own challenges
“We got a good start. It was a bit of negative as the players were on easy street too early. I thought it was a bit insipid, but they did play a bit better in the second half”
City have now moved five clear in third place and also have an eye on Dundalk in second spot. The Lilywhites are seven points clear but must visit Maginn in the last series of game.
The City focus turns to Tallaght and a huge game against Shamrock Rovers this Friday, August 4 (kick off 8 pm).
City must face into that without two of their key performers after yellow cards yesterday
“It is a hard game. Aaron Barry and Nicky Low are key players and will both be absent. We will be trying hard to dig out a reuslt there”
Derry City: G Doherty, McDermott, Cole, Barry, Jarvis; Low (Holden 86), McEniff, McNamee; Schubert (Boyle 80), Patterson, Curtis (B Doherty 80).
Limerick: Clarke, O’Connor, Lynch, Duggan, Tosi (O’Flynn 58), Whitehead, Kenny (O’Loughlin 89), Clarke, Ogbene, Crowe, Cameron (Hery 58).
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
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