Michael McHugh's third goal in as many games kept Derry City's tenuous European hopes alive, but you had to feel sorry for Bohemians at Dalymount Park last night.
Having missed a late penalty, Roddy Collins' side still need a point from their final game at UCD on Sunday to be sure of avoiding the relegation play-off after everything, it seemed, conspired against them scoring last night.
Having started well Bohemians found themselves a goal down at half-time.
Derry slowly came into the match and scored after Bohemians thought they had cleared their third corner in the 43rd minute. Peter Hutton sent a sublime pass through to McHugh who drew Michael Dempsey off his line and tucked the ball past him into the net.
Derek Swan spurned the opportunity to finally pull Bohemians level 10 minutes from time when crashing his penalty kick off the crossbar.
Bohemians: Dempsey; O'Connor, Maher, O'Driscoll, Brunton; Mooney, T Byrne, Hunt, Mullen; Kelly, Swan. Subs: O'Hanlon for Mullen (24 mins), P Byrne for T Byrne (54 mins), Lawlor for Brunton (76 mins).
Derry City: Platt; Gauld, Curran, D. Kelly, McCallion; Hutton, Doherty, Hegarty, McCreadie; McCaul, McHugh. Subs: McCann for Doherty (67 mins), Coyle for McCaul (84 mins), McLaughlin for McCreadie (88 mins).
Referee: J Stacey (Athlone).
