Derry City well beaten by Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell

Derry City 1

Shamrock Rovers 3

Derry City suffered their third defeat of the season as they were well beaten at home by champions Shamrock Rovers.

The two teams expected to challenge for the title come the end of the season were well matched in an entertaining first half, but they were worlds apart in the second as three goals in the space of 14 minutes ended this game as a contest before the hour.

The Candystripes have now slipped down to fourth place in the Premier Division, but the manner of this defeat to the champions could take some time to recover from.

There was so nearly the perfect start for Derry City as Michael Duffy came close just two minutes in, when a shooting opportunity opened up for Michael Duffy, and his effort forced Leon Pohls into an early save, pushing the ball behind for a corner. Gary O’Neill then tested Brian Maher from distance as both teams signalled their intentions in an encouraging start to the game.

The home side had the ball in the net on 12 minute when Ben Doherty broke forward through midfield and slipped the ball through for Danny Mullan, who lashed it past Pohls and into the net, but the striker had gone just too early and an offside flag halted the celebrations.

Rovers began to look very dangerous midway through the half and Brain Maher had to race from his goal to take the ball off the toes of Aaron Greene, after Richie Towell had dispossessed Adam O’Reilly in midfield.

Derry City somehow survived 20 minutes in when Greene went through on goal 20 yards ahead of the nearest City defender, only to be denied by a brilliant save from Maher. The striker was first to the rebound and pulled it back from the byline to Towell, but the midfielder’s shot was blocked by Ben Doherty on the line and the ball somehow spun wide.

Rovers had taken a grip on this game by the half hour mark, but they gave up a chance on 33 minutes when O’Reilly won the ball in midfield and found Duffy, who sent a curling effort towards the bottom corner from 20 yards, forcing Pohls to push the ball away once again.

Both sides had close calls in the first half, but none came closer than Danny Mullen’s effort, five minutes before the break, when the striker received the ball from McMullan 20 yards from goal and curled a superb effort beyond Pohls, only to be denied by the base of the post.

The Derry City supporters were on their feet in encouragement 10 minutes into the second half as their team created another chance, O’Reilly slipping Ronan Boyce through, and he drilled the ball towards goal forcing Pohls to parry the ball away.

But the hosts were thankful for their goalkeeper again when Greene disposed Shae McEleney in his own penalty area, and drilled an effort goalwards which Maher had to push behind.

The Rovers striker made no mistake just 60 seconds later however as Dylan Watts found him completely alone in the City penalty area, and he placed the ball past Maher to make it 1-0.

Just five minutes later, Rovers doubled their lead and it was the same combination of players that did the damage, Watts picking out the run of Greene in behind and the striker simply lobbed the ball over Maher to leave Derry City with a mountain to climb in the final half hour.

But the game was ended as a contest on 69 minutes as Derry City fell apart completely. Daniel Kelly, just on as a substitute, lost possession in his own half and Graham Burke raced away to set up Richie Towell for a tap in, and he couldn’t miss as he sealed the points for the champions.

Derry did manage a late consolation when substitute Pat Hoban slid home at the back post from Daniel Kelly’s cross, but it ultimately meant nothing with the home team well beaten.

Teams

DERRY CITY: Maher, Doherty, Connolly, McJannet, S McEleney (Kelly 65’), Boyce, O’Reilly, Patching, McMullan, Duffy (Hoban 65’), Mullen.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:  Pohls, Honohan, Lopes, Cleary (Barrett 81’), Watts, Greene (Gaffney 72’), Burke (Kenny 72’), O’Neill, Towell, Poom, Burns (Nugent 72’).

REFEREE: Paul McLaughlin.