- Macdara Ferris
- Mon, Jun 08 2015
Shamrock Rovers made it nine goals in four days with a comprehensive 4-1 league win over Derry City in Tallaght Stadium on Monday night. The win was shaped by the Candystripes reduction to 10 men after 13 minutes when Ryan McBride was sent off. Rovers may rue Mikey Drennan’s later red card for retaliation and the Hoops will have to do without their top scorer when they take on Bohemians in Dalymount Park next Friday.
The Hoops had brought this game forward due to European commitments next month and they were able to easily put three points on the board against a Derry side who were able to show little after the sending off.
Drennan scored his tenth goal of the season, his third in two games, when putting the Hoops 1-0 up after just 11 minutes. Aaron Barry had given the ball cheaply away at right back for the visitors. Rovers worked the ball with Simon Madden linking up with Marty Waters who beat full back Barry. The winger’s ball played across the six yard box and was met by the inrushing Drennan who tapped home.
Two minutes later the Derry fans who travelled to Tallaght must have wondered what they were in for. Having not seen their men win on their travels since mid-April, they found their team now not only 1-0 down but also a man down.
An over the top challenge by Derry City captain Ryan McBride on Pat Cregg had Rovers fans, players and the bench calling for a dismissal. The Hoops captain Conor Kenna got involved in the afters. He would get a yellow card for pushing but when things settled down referee Ray Matthews reached for his back pocket and the red card sending McBride off.
Moments later a ball over the top by Stephen McPhail caused untold confusion on the edge of the Candystripes’ box. The ball was left by Shane McEleney to his goalkeeper but under pressure from Drennan the 'keeper played the clearance straight to Waters. Doherty redeemed himself though with a smothering save.
Peter Hutton had by then rejigged his team bringing Barry into the centre with Dean Jarvis dropping back into the full back position.
His team were reduced to nine men temporarily on the half hour mark as Shane McEleney hobbled off and it looked like he may not continue. The Hoops went very close to exploiting their momentary two man advantage. Drennan played a one-two with Gary McCabe and then let fly with the outside of his right boot but sending it over the bar before Shane McEleney returned.
The pair linked up again on 37 minutes with McCabe’s cross controlled by Drennan who turned forcing Doherty into a save. McCabe, playing on the left wing, provided another penetrating pass this time to Miele. The 20-year-old midfielder was playing in behind Drennan but Miele dragged his shot wide.
Derry offered very little in attack looking to simply try and contain the Hoops and Craig Hyland in the Rovers goal was little more than a spectator for the much of the game.
McCabe was centrally involved in most of Rovers chances when the game opened up following that early sending off. Two minutes from the break, he got his own chance to test Doherty and shooting from distance the Derry netminder was forced to save. In first half injury time, McCabe swung in a free kick from the left that Drennan took to shoot into the side netting leaving just the one goal between the teams.
The Hoops cut loose in the second half. Just four minutes after the break McCabe got the second goal. Waters had taken the ball from right to left and played a delightful pass behind the back of the Derry defence. Doherty came out and McCabe threw him a dummy which sent the keeper to the ground and the winger was able to take the ball easily by him to score.
On 55 minutes Waters got the goal that his play deserved. Again he was allowed drift inside from the right and when he let fly with this left boot he found the back of the net. Doherty was beaten low to his left and he pounded the pitch in disappointment afterwards.
Derry were left screaming for an offside flag that never came on 65 minutes. Kenna’s header came to Miele all on his own and he turned and scored from the edge of the box as the Derry defence looked on.
Pat Fenlon was able to make some changes with one eye no doubt on next Friday’s Dublin Derby away to Bohemians. Stephen McPhail and Conor Kenna made way for Gavin Brennan and Tim Clancy who came on to make his league debut for the Hoops.
The teams were evened up on 79 minutes when Drennan reacted to a Seanan Clucas challenge. The pair squared up and referee Matthews brandished his red card once again – this time to Drennan.
Derry’s Ryan Curran on the pitch for just a minute scored on the turn off Philip Lowry’s pass late on 85 minutes but the goal provided little consolation for Derry who remain in ninth place in the table.
The win, in what was Rovers’ last league game at home for five weeks, moves the Hoops to within four points of table toppers Dundalk – albeit with an extra game played than the champions.
Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna (Tim Clancy 73), David Webster, Luke Byrne; Marty Waters (Gareth McCaffrey 84), Stephen McPhail (Gavin Brennan 66), Pat Cregg, Brandon Miele, Gary McCabe; Mikey Drennan.
Subs not used: Barry Murphy (gk), David O'Connor, Cian Kavanagh, Ryan Brennan,
Booked: Conor Kenna (13)
Sent Off: Mikey Drennan (79)
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Seamus Sharkey, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Aaron Barry; Joshua Daniels (Ronan Curtis 73), Seanan Clucas, Philip Lowry, Barry McNamee (Ryan Curran 84), Dean Jarvis; Patrick McEleney (Cillian Morrison 61).
Subs Not Used: Shaun Patton, Nathan Boyle, Shaun Kelly, Anthony Elding.
Booked: Patrick McEleney (13)
Sent Off: Ryan McBride (13)
Referee: Ray Matthews.
Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)
ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Marty Waters (Shamrock Rovers)
