Derry City's hopes of capturing a place in European football next season received a major boost at the Brandywell yesterday when they extended their unbeaten league run to nine games and effectively ended UCD's European hopes. Two first-half goals decided a lacklustre affair. The first came in first-half injury-time when Liam Coyle delivered a free into the UCD penalty area for Gary Beckett to volley home.
The students lost their influential captain, Aidan Lynch, after just 28 minutes due to injury. Robert Dunne came in for Lynch with Tony McDonnell switching into the centre of the UCD defence and within a minute of this McDonnell appeared to mis-kick a clearance and Striker Perry Taylor scored from 14 yards.
Despite dominating the opening 15 minutes of the second half, Derry never looked like losing.
DERRY CITY: Platt; McCallion, McLaughlin, Hutton, Hargan; Beckett, Hegarty, Quigley, McCready; Taylor, Coyle. Subs: McCaul for Taylor (55 mins), McIvor for Coyle (75 mins)
UCD: Ryan; McDonnell, Lynch, Delaney, Mahon; Martin, Martyn, Kavanagh, O'Donnell; O'Byrne, Kilmurray. Subs: Dunne for Lynch (28 mins), Timmins and Bennis for O'Donnell and O'Byrne respectively (both 72 mins).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
