League Report: Derry City 1 - 0 Shamrock Rovers

Paul Hegarty picked up a vital three points in his first game in charge of Derry City as the relegation threatened side defeated a toothless Shamrock Rovers 1-0 at the Brandywell on Friday evening.

Hegarty sprung a surprise in the starting line up by dropping Barry McNamee to the bench and playing Philip Lowry in a more advanced role, but it seemed an inspired decision as Derry played as well as they have done in quite some time.

The game itself was quite a closely fought encounter but both keepers had relatively little to do over the course of 90 minutes.

As early as the second minute Ciaran O'Connor squirmed clear on the byline and his shot was relatively easily gathered by Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Just a few minutes later a terrific through ball from Drennan sent Miele clear but Doherty was quick off his line to deflect his finish over the bar.

The game settled into a scrappy midfield affair for some time after this with neither keeper troubled. Derry were dealt a blow when their talisman and main creative force Patrick McEleney seemed to pull up injured and was replaced by Barry McNamee.

A minute before half time Mark Timlin went on a surging run and while he couldn't quite get a shot off he eventually found O'Connor whose shot was easily gathered by Murphy.

Rovers introduced Conor Kenna for Byrne at the break but this didn't seem to change much tactics wise. In the 48th minute Ciaran O'Connor broke into the box and went over but the referee deemed it simulation, and booked the on loan Dundalk striker.

Shortly after this point Fenlon introduced Damien Duff to proceedings to try and provide a creative edge which had been lacking for the visitors. With less than 30 minutes to go Duff was played in one on one with Doherty and seemed to have all the time in the world to put Rovers one up but a great save from Doherty denied the former Chelsea winger his first Shamrock Rovers goal.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute after Barry McNamee had forced a corner off David O'Connor. Timlin took the corner and the unlikely figure of Dean Jarvis ghosted in at the back post with a powerful header to give the home side the lead.

Shamrock Rovers tried everything to get back in the game but it seemed as if nothing was coming off for them. They had a great opportunity to snatch a point in the third minute of injury time but Gary McCabe blasted his free kick into the wall from the edge of the box.

Paul Hegarty will be ecstatic with the three points as Derry try to climb the table but its back to the drawing board for Pat Fenlon whose side seem to be stuttering towards the finish line in the chase for Europe.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Ben McLaughlin, Aaron Barry, Ryan McBride(Patrick McClean 81), Dean Jarvis; Patrick McEleney(Barry McNamee 34), Mark Timlin, Conor McCormack, Philip Lowry, Stephen Dooley; Ciaran O'Connor(Mark Quigley 68).

Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Aaron McEneff, Josh Daniels, Cillian Morrison.

Booked: Philip Lowry, Conor McCormack, Aaron Barry.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy, Simon Madden(Kieran Marty Waters 82), Maxime Blanchard, David O'Connor, Luke Byrne(Conor Kenna 46); Gary McCabe, Patrick Cregg, Gavin Brennan, Gareth McCaffrey(Damien Duff 56); Brandon Miele, Mikey Drennan.

Subs not used: Craig Hyland, Dylan Kavanagh, Ryan Brennan, Stephen McPhail.

Booked: None.

Referee: Robert Harvey.

Attendance: 1,200 (est).

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Dooley(Derry City).