Sport

Sligo's league hopes take a blow despite Ndo's stunner

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 1: SLIGO ROVERS’ hopes of becoming league champions are hanging by a thread following a hard-earned…

Mon Sept 05 2011 - 01:00

Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City 1:SLIGO ROVERS' hopes of becoming league champions are hanging by a thread following a hard-earned draw at the Showgrounds on Saturday.

It was Stephen McLoughlin who came to Derry City’s rescue.

His pacy run into Sligo territory opened up enough space in front of goal for his shot to beat goalkeeper Brendan Clarke in the home goal three minutes before half-time to cancel out Joseph Ndo’s opener for Sligo in the 14th minute.

The Cameroon international rocked Derry and brought the home supporters to their feet with one of the best goals seen at the Showgrounds.

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Ndo got possession out near the half-way line and showing clever ball control let fly with an unstoppable effort that gathered speed as it went past Gerard Doherty in the City goal.

A disappointed but defiant Sligo coach Paul Cook said afterwards: “With eight games to go we will never give up until its mathematically impossible to win anything.

“To be fair to Derry they came with a gameplan and the gameplan was to get a draw or win the game and now obviously they will go away and think job done.

The Sligo coach continued: “It’s great credit to the players that we have eight games to go and we are still being talked about as potential league champions. We owe that to the supporters and the people of Sligo.”

Derry boss Stephen Kenny, who welcomed back Mark Farren after a long spell out with injury, was reasonably happy with the outcome.

“We got a result of sorts and we won’t know until the end of the season whether it’s a good one or a bad one.

“We have two games next week at the Brandywell and we must try and make them count because all the games are crucial now.

“It’s not the worst result. Sligo are a very, very good team and it’s a difficult place to come to.”

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Davoren, Cretaro (Russell, 66 mins), Peers, Ryan, McGuinness, Ventre (Blinkhorn, 80 mins), Doyle, Greene, Ndo, Kirby (Keane, 61 mins).

DERRY CITY: Doherty, McCallion, Greacen, S McEleney, Molloy, Lafferty, Deery (McDaid, 89 mins), P McEleney (Farren, 66 mins), Higgins, Zayed (Harkin, 80 mins), McLoughlin.

Referee: P Mc Keon(Dublin).