Bruno Magpies swoop late to end Derry City's Conference League involvement

Derry City's UEFA Conference League campaign came to an abrupt end, despite the ten men putting up a brave fight against Bruno Magpies at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, losing in the end 3-2 on aggregate.

Magpies' substitute Evan De Haro's 111th minute goal sealed the win, but referee Antoine Chiaramonti was the man everyone was talking about after the game.

The Andorra official disallowed Pat Hoban's first header, before harshly cautioning Adam O'Reilly twice, to reduce the home side to ten just before the break.

The Candystripes took the game to extra-time thanks to goals from Mark Connolly and Hoban, but De Haro's strike in extra-time sealed the aggregate win for the Gibraltar men.

City created the first chance of the encounter on seven minutes, as Michael Duffy saw his left wing centre find Hoban, but the striker's close range header at the near post, sailed over the bar.

Moments later Daniel Kelly's right wing cross found Hoban inside the box, the front man cushioned the ball straight into Paul McMullan's path, but the winger's first time strike failed to trouble Magpies keeper Dayle Coleing.

Magpies' missed a glorious chance to take the lead on 18 minutes as Carlos Garcia's right wing corner picked out Ashton Taylor, but the big defender, who was unmarked, headed wide from 10 yards.

Derry were saved by the woodwork on 24 minutes as Olatunde Bayode's right wing cross into the near post found Javi Forjan and his header, which had Brian Maher scrambling, clipped the post on its way wide.

The home side thought they had taken the lead five minutes later as McMullan's right wing cross found Hoban, who seemed to out-muscle Ruben Diaz to head home, but City's celebrations were cut-short as referee Antoine Chiaramonti awarded