Finn Harps

James Akintunde completed a dramatic Derry City turnaround as they condemned struggling Finn Harps to a painful 2-1 defeat in Ballybofey.

Former Bohemians winger Graydon chased a long ball from Dummigan, got in behind Ethan Boyle to head a trickler past the advancing McGinley. After half-time though, Derry pounded the Town End goal, with a Cameron McJannett header flying just over the crossbar and the impressive Patrick McEleney, on 74 minutes, drawing a fine stop from McGinley, with Derry’s first effort on target. Two new signings had scored the first two goals, with Robert Jones giving Harps a 31st-minute lead and Derry drawing level through Ryan Graydon - who was introduced on the hour - ten minutes from time.

City, whose Europa Conference League journey ended at the first hurdle in Latvia on Thursday, were the better team overall and dominated the second half.

Derry finally equalised on 79 minutes when a McJannet ball in was met by Graydon who headed beyond McGinley and into the net for his first goal since joining from Longford Town. After the break, Harps found themselves increasingly camped in their own half and Harps had a real scare on the hour when a Cameron McJannet effort bounced in front of goal and went over the crossbar. But in the first half they struggled to break down a stubborn Harps defence and it was the home side who led at the break through a goal from new arrival Rob Jones.

Derry came from behind after Robert Jones netted his first Finn Harps goal.

Sixteen minutes from the end, McGinley brilliantly turned over when Patrick McEleney tried his luck from 30 yards. Derry returned to Ireland on Friday morning following their 2-0 Europa Conference League defeat in Riga the previous night. Patching, who has haunted Harps in the last year, fired an early warning across the home brows. Just before the first-half water break in a boiling Ballybofey, Matty Smith was close to opening the scoring. Cameron Dummigan swept the ball forward from the right-back position. Derry had drawn level ten minutes from the end.

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"It's great to see him on the pitch," said the City boss. It's great to see him back in action. We link up well so we're delighted he's back and hopefully he can be another great addition to the team." "If we can put in performances like that against a top class team like Riga, then why can't we dominate games when we're back home against teams in our league? Whereas in the league you go again the next week so it's gutting. "It definitely wasn't a fair reflection," claimed Patching. "The scoreline just reflects how ruthless they were.

Derry have returned to second spot in the Premier Division with a late victory away to Finn Harps.

There was only one team who looked like winning it and, in the end, they did. A McJannett header went over the crossbar and with Patrick McEleney becoming more and more a threat to the hosts, on 74 minutes the former Dundalk winger drew a fine stop from McGinley. Although 1-0 behind, the visitors had almost a monopoly on possession in the second half and started to create notable chances in the final quarter, with Graydon getting the equaliser with just 10 minutes to play.