Derry City 2 Bluebell United 1

Bluebell United bowed out of the FAI Cup at the Brandywell last night, the Leinster Senior League side failing to overcome Derry City in this third round replay.

But while the home side had owned the ball for lengthy periods, they failed to confirm a place in the last eight until the latter stages and even then, Derry faced a nervous finish when Bluebell netted in the 90th minute.

Deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Barry McNamee did well to find Rory Patterson in space and he picked his spot, before drilling the ball into the far corner of the net.

After the break Bluebell nearly equalised but Peter Sherlock’s header went wide of the upright.

Disaster struck the visitors in the 83rd minute when, with goalkeeper, McNulty, off his line, Robert Douglas’ low clearance found McNamee and the midfielder lashed the ball into the empty net from 20 yards.

Bluebell scored a consolation goal when a long punt forwards was met by the alert Shane Stritch who took full advantage when driving the ball home from 18 yards.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, B. Molloy, Jarvis, S Madden; Griffin (McDaid, 73), Higgins, McNamee, Kavanagh (Duffy, 66) P McEleney; Patterson (Rafter, 87).
BLUEBELL UNITED: McNulty; Rooney, A. Cleary, Sherlock, Keeler; T Molloy (Stewart, 57), Griffith, Darcy, J. Cleary (Douglas, 57) G. Madden (KIlleen, 70); Stritch.
Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).