Derry City 1 Sligo Rovers 0

Derry City finally removed the Indian Sign which Sligo have held over them for the past five years following last night's narrow victory at the Brandywell.

And it was a deserved win, teenager Enda Curran crashing the ball home off the upright in the 53rd minute for his first goal for the northern club. Sligo huffed and puffed but with their main hitman, Danny North failing a pre-match fitness test, they struggled in the final third.

Having weathered an early storm Derry began to threaten with Rory Patterson forcing an error in the Sligo defence before his shot was superbly parried by Gary Rogers in the 15th minute.

However, Derry upped the ante after the break and when Aaron Barry picked up Enda Curran, the 19-year-old let fly from 20 yards, the ball deflecting off the upright before finding the net.

Sligo went agonisingly close to equalising minutes later but Eric Odhiambo failed to get the telling touch to Aaron Greene’s cross.

And in the 58th minute Sligo went close again when. Sean Maguire drilled in a low cross from the right but Greene poked the ball wide from point blank range..

Derry had the final say when keeper, Gerard Doherty, pulled off an amazing reflex save in the 76th minute to palm clear a John Russell header from point blank range.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Collins (Elebert, 11 mins), Byrne, Barry, Jarvis; Ventre, E. Curran; Stewart, McGovern (R Curran, 73 mins), Duffy; Patterson.
SLIGO ROVERS: Rogers; Keane, McMillan, Henderson, Gaynor; Ndo, Russell; Odhiaambo (O'Connor, 69 mins), Cawley (Spillane, 82 mins), Greene; Maguire (Loftus, 86 mins).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).