League Report: Shamrock Rovers 0 - 1 Derry City

Derry City put a dent in Shamrock Rovers’ European ambitions and significantly boosted their own as they defeated the Hoops 1-0 as the visitors kept their very first clean sheet in Tallaght Stadium.

There was plenty of goalmouth action in the match but an overdose of yellow cards as somehow referee Ray Matthews handed out an incredible 12 yellow cards in a match that would not be described as a dirty game.

The Hoops continued with the 3-5-2 formation favoured by Stephen Bradley. He went with Killian Brennan in his starting XI at the expense of Gary McCabe, with Kenny Shiels making two changes bringing in Lukas Schubert and Patrick McClean (whose Irish international brother James was in attendance in Tallaght).

The first half seemed to be a personal battle between Rovers ‘keeper Craig Hyland and Candystripes midfielder Aaron McEneff.

On 14 minutes Hyland pulled off a magnificent save as, diving to his right, he batted out McEneff’s powerful free kick which shifted through the air as it went by the Rovers wall.

City won the set piece after Shane Hanney, starting his first league game in Tallaght, went through the back of striker Rory Patterson.

Just before the half hour mark the two squared up again over a set piece as Killian Brennan conceded a free kick 40 yards from goal. The distance didn’t disturb McEneff who got his shot on target. It bounced in front of Hyland who was deceived by the ball but he had his body in behind it to save. Ronan Curtis was quickest to the rebound but Hyland redeemed his error by flashing out his right hand to tip the ball around the post for a corner.

Matthews had his work cut out in the middle of the half as the tackles began to fly in. During a nine minute period he produced four yellow cards with one for the home team and three for the visitors.

When Derry won a corner on 35 minutes, Sean Boyd headed the ball out to McEneff and his right foot volley arrowed towards the bottom corner of the Rovers net before his nemesis Hyland outstretched his arm to save the Hoops.

Hyland was helpless a minute later though as the Candystipes broke the deadlock. It was Patterson rather than McEneff who opened the scoring. Conor McDermott’s run to the end line saw him cross to Patterson lurking around the penalty spot and he powered home his 12^th goal of the league campaign.

When the visitors got a free kick after Brennan gave away another foul in shooting distance, taking down Lukas Schubert, Patterson was the one to take the free kick which fizzed just wide of Hyland’s left hand post.

The early chances of the second half fell to the visitors with Ronan Curtis centrally involved twice in a minute. His pass seven minutes into the half allowed Schubert orchestrate a chance as he cut inside and bend a left foot shot that was saved by Hyland. Curtis then was wasteful with a shot that considerably cleared Hyland’s crossbar.

At the other end Gary Shaw outsprinted Dean Jarvis and his cut back fell to Brandon Miele who inexplicably elected to try and pass to Trevor Clarke with the goal at his mercy and Derry were able to clear.

On the hour mark Shaw’s pace again saw him get in behind the Derry defence. This time he got by Schubert on the Rovers left and his effort was touched just over by Ger Doherty.

Rovers wracked up the bookings in the second half and their fifth yellow card on 64 minutes gave McEneff another sniff with a set piece. Rob Cornwall tugged Paterson’s jersey 25 yards out and his free kick from a central position was drilled along the ground just wide of the Rovers goal.

Just after Rovers got their eighth yellow card, this one for David O’Connor, the two Clarke’s linked up on the break with substitute Dean Clarke’s cross swept behind for a corner by McLean with Aaron Dobbs lurking at the back post.

Four minutes from time Dean Clarke’s centre got by Doherty but missed Trevor Clarke’s despairing dive by inches.

A minute later at the opposite end Curtis cut inside and his shot was touched wide by Hyland who had an excellent game in the Rovers goal.

The win keeps the Candystripes in third place just a point behind Cork City (who won 4-1 at home against Bray) and five points clear of the Hoops who do have two games in hand.

It was Stephen Bradley’s first league loss in Tallaght and it remains to be seen if it was Bradley’s last game in charge as without his pro-licence it is expected that Rovers will this week bring someone in to work alongside him till the end of the season.

Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Shane Hanney, Rob Cornwall, David O'Connor; Simon Madden, Brandon Miele, Pat Cregg, Killian Brennan (Gary McCabe 65), Trevor Clarke; Sean Boyd (Aaron Dobbs 72), Gary Shaw (Dean Clarke 72).

Subs not used: Barry Murphy, David Webster, James Doona, Stephen McPhail.

Yellow Cards: Cregg (27), Hanney (49), Boyd (53), K Brennan (60), Cornwall (64), T Clarke (69), Dobbs (75), O’Connor (78).

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Conor McDermott, Niclas Vemmelund, Dean Jarvis, Patrick McClean; Lukas Schubert (Nathan Boyle 72), Aaron McEneff, Conor McCormack (Harry Monaghan 60), Barry McNamee, Ronan Curtis (Ben Doherty 89); Rory Patterson.

Subs not used: Cristian Castells, Josh Daniels, Shaun Patton, Keith Ward.

Yellow Cards: Jarvis (22), McEneff (30), McCormack (31), McNamee (80).

Referee: Ray Matthews.

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Aaron McEneff (Derry City).

You can see pictures from the game as taken by Peter Fitzpatrick here.