Derry City 1 Bray Wanderers 0: Derry City struggled to get into top gear at the Brandywell last night, but credit to a battling Bray Wanderers who fought doggedly for every ball.
In fact, it was Bray who had dominated possession during the opening half an hour but it was the wizardry of Derry's Paddy McCourt who changed the course of this fixture by the half-hour mark.
Indeed, up until that point Eddie Gormley's new-look side, which boasted no less than five debutants, were more than holding their own as Derry huffed and puffed.
Paul Caffrey and Derek Tyrrell had threatened for Bray before McCourt worked his way up the right flank and having left David Tyrrell in his wake, his chip into the danger area from saw Kevin McHugh's lob deflect off a defender on the way to the net.
That goal, which came totally against the run of play, saw the home side gain dominance and within the space of seven minutes Derry could and should have been out of sight.
In the 32nd minute Mark Farren was played through by Barry Molloy but when facing a one-on-one situation with Bray goalkeeper Steve Williams, the Derry striker directed his shot high over the crossbar.
And Farren was in again in the 37th minute when he outwitted Clive Delaney to force another one-on-one with Williams but on this occasion the goalkeeper parried the shot wide of his goal.
Disappointment followed the change of ends with scoring chances at a premium.
That said, McHugh could have ended the game as a contest, while Bray's Stephen Fox could have restored equality before losing his footing and the chance was lost during the latter stages.
DERRY CITY: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Oman, Hargan; Deery, Molloy, Higgins (McGlynn, 73 mins) , McCourt; McHugh, Farren.
BRAY WANDERERS: Williams; Derek Tyrrell, Delaney, Deans, Cronin; Tresson (Kenny, 87 mins), Gough (Duggan, 78 mins), Caffrey, David Tyrrell; Fox, Dunphy (McCabe, 76 mins).
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
Athlone Town will play a competitive game for the first time in their new Lissywoollen Stadium this evening when they take on Kilkenny City in their opening First Division game of the season.
