SETANTA CUP FINAL: Crusaders 2 Derry City 2:DERRY CITY manager Declan Devine was bitterly disappointed after his side were defeated by Crusaders at the Oval on Saturday.
Stephen Baxter’s men probably should have been out of sight before Rory Patterson’s 80th-minute opening goal, as they were denied on numerous occasions by City goalkeeper Gerard Doherty.
“It’s a devastating way to lose the final but I think that the reason we lost the game was because we gave away two soft goals from set-pieces,” said Devine, “I think we should have had a free-kick just before they scored.”
The League of Ireland men took the lead against the run of play when Patterson struck. However, it didn’t take long before they were level when Colin Coates headed home four minutes from time.
Coates gave his side the lead in extra-time but that Patterson scored from a penalty.
Crusaders brought the game to penalties when Coates scored a controversial second. Pictures clearly show Crusaders striker David Rainey had fouled Doherty but the goal stood. The Belfast side won through Gareth McKeown’s spot-kick after Dermot McCaffrey had saw his penalty saved by Seán O’Neill.
CRUSADERS: O'Neill, McBride, Leeman, Magowan, Coates, Morrow, Adamson (McKeown, 91) , Rainey (Snoddy, 96), Caddell (Gargan, 111), Dallas, Watson.
DERRY CITY: Doherty, Madden, S McEleney, McBride (McCallion, 106), McCaffrey; P McEleney, Molloy, Higgins, McLaughlin (Morrison, 63); McDaid, Patterson.
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast).
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