Derry go six clear after edging Finn Harps in derby

Derry City restored their six-point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division courtesy of a north-west derby victory at Finn Harps.

In the last of the first series of fixtures for both sides, Cameron McJannett headed the opening goal in what proved to be a reasonably nervy evening before a deflected Will Patching free-kick two minutes from time made it two.

Filip Mihaljevic scored his first Harps goal from the penalty spot on 92 minutes, after the just-introduced Ciaran Coll had fouled the Croatian, to stall the home supporters headed for the exit gates. However, Derry held on for their sixth win on the bounce.

Harps opened in typically lively fashion with a decent run and cross from Ethan Boyle headed towards goal by Yoyo Mahdy, only for Brian Maher in the Derry goal to gather on nine minutes.

Ruaidhrí Higgins' side, although not shying from the helter-skelter, aimed to slow the pace of the game and were soon testing Mark Anthony McGinley, the Harps goalkeeper. Danny Lafferty, in particular, was getting on the end of things.

Firstly he met a cross from Ronan Boyce to arch a header just over and then, on 23 minutes, forced the Harps netminder to tip a shot over the crossbar. Derry opened the scoring from the corner that followed, with McJannett meeting Brandon Kavanagh's delivery plumb-on to bury the header.