League Report: Derry City 2 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
A young Derry City fan during their game against Shamrock Rovers Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)
A late goal from Jamie McGonigle snatched a 2-1 victory for Derry City over reigning champions Shamrock Rovers on Friday night at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. It is the home side’s first league win over the Hoops since August 2017.
Derry started the better of the two teams with a strong helping hand from the wind which pegged Rovers in their own half. A Jack Byrne free-kick from wide on the right was blown back out of Derry’s penalty box and Alan Manus was unable even to hit the ball beyond the half way line from goal-kicks.
Rovers faced an aerial bombardment with the deliveries of Brandon Kavanagh and Will Patching from corner-kicks. Patching nutmegged Richie Towell and flashed a ball across the box, Lee Grace reacting quicker than James Akintunde to save the Hoops.
Rovers had their moments with Byrne organising things from deep but chances were few and far between as Derry harried them all over the pitch. Ciaron Harkin and Joe Thompson in particular standing out.
Jamie McGonigle was a handful for Rovers back three either pulling wide to receive in space or holding up the ball to play in others. The first-half ended scoreless.
It was Derry who opened the scoring. A well-worked corner routine played McGonigle into the box, Jack Byrne tackled him from behind to concede a penalty. Patching stepped up and stutter-stepped before burying the ball to Mannus’ opposite side.
A triple substitution from Rovers allowed them to wrestle back control. Andy Lyons, Graham Burke and Dylan Watts coming on for Barry Cotter, Daniel Mandroiu and Towell.
Watts and Burke found space in between the lines and Ronan Finn pushed on to be a right winger. The pressure told and Watts dispatched a free-kick from just outside the box through the Derry wall to catch goalie Brian Maher out on his nearside.
Burke had some lovely touches and looked Rovers most dangerous man in possession, at one stage shimmying to his right and unleashing a shot from 30 yards out.
Derry continued to counter effectively through either breaking from midfield or with long balls up to McGonigle or the newly returned Patrick McEleney who came on as a sub.
With Rovers looking for a winner and the clock ticking towards the fifth minute of added time everything changed.
Roberto Lopes misplaced a back-pass and set away McGonigle who drove towards goal rolled the ball across Sean Hoare with his right foot before blasting past Alan Mannus into the top corner and sending the home fans into delirium.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Eoin Toal (c), Cameron McJannet, Daniel Lafferty, Cameron Dummigan; Joe Thomson, Will Patching, Ciaron Harkin (Ronan Boyce 70); Jamie McGonigle, Brandon Kavanagh, James Akintunde (Patrick McEleney 54).
Subs not used: Nathan Gartside, Shane McEleney, Evan McLaughlin, Ciaran Coll, Caoimhin Porter, Jack Malone, Gerard Storey.
Booked: None.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Pico, Sean Hoare, Lee Grace; Richie Towell (Dylan Watts 64), Gary O'Neill (Aaron Greene 83), Ronan Finn (Sean Gannon 88), Barry Cotter (Andy Lyons 64); Daniel Mandroiu (Graham Burke 64), Rory Gaffney, Jack Byrne.
Subs not used: Leon Pohls, Sean Jones-Carey, Aidomo Emakhu.
Booked: Jack Byrne (33) Pico (52).
Referee: Rob Hennessy
Attendance: 3,235 (est)
extratime.com Player of the Match: Jamie McGonigle
