Honours even for Coleraine and Derry

Coleraine manager Oran Kearney watched his side draw 0-0 with Derry City in a friendly on Tuesday night. Picture by Brian Little/Presseye

It also gave Oran Kearney the chance to take on his father-in-law Kenny Shiels, who has taken over at the Brandywell.

The game itself was a bit of a lacklustre affair.

Derry were first to threaten on 14 minutes as striker Gareth McGlynn found space after some good build up play, but his weak shot was easily saved by Chris Johns.

Brad Lyons almost fired the Bannsiders in front on 21 minutes after the Derry defence could only half clear a dangerous ball into the box. Lyon’s follow up was cleared off the line before he fired the rebound wide of the target.

The hosts had a big shout for a penalty on 29 minutes after Howard Beverland released James McLaughlin, the big striker looked to have been clipped by Gerard Doherty in the visitors’ goal, referee John Deighan was unmoved though.

Former Coleraine striker Rory Patterson should have broken the deadlock on 53 minutes, but the usually deadly hit man shot over when well-placed on this occasion.

At the other end substitute Ian Parkhill also spurned a fantastic opportunity when through one-on-one with Doherty, he too fired over the target.

Parkhill went closer with nine minutes to go after some good work from Lyons and McGonigle, this time he forced Doherty into a smart save.

Coleraine FC: Johns, Kane, Beverland, Ogilby, Mullan, Lyons, McCafferty, Law, Kanwischer, McGonigle, McLaughlin

Subs: Watt, Edgar, Parkhill

Derry City FC: Doherty, Vellemuno, Jarvis, McEneff, McCormack, McNamee, Patterson, Monaghan, Delgrado, McGlynn,Barry

Subs: Dunlop, McLean, Holden, Curtis, McDermott, Patton, Brown, Tourish, Allan, Boyle