Heartbreak as late Shamrock Rovers fightback stuns Derry

A late Rovers double broke Derry City FC hearts at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Sunday evening as the Hoops came from behind to ensure a share of the spoils on Foyleside in a 3-3 thriller. Mark Connolly’s men looked set for a huge three points that would have moved them to within four points of Dundalk in the final European spot, but late goals from Graham Burke and substitute Dylan Watts drew the Champions level.

Connolly made four changes from the side that endured last week’s 5-3 collapse in Dalymount Park, with Darragh Burns, Brandon Fleming, Jamie Stott and debutant Tom Norcott coming into the starting XI. In the opposing dugout, under-fire Stephen Bradley made five changes from the Hoops’ midweek European disappointment against KuPS.

The Candystripes made the perfect start as Ellis Chapman hit the net after just two minutes. Chapman picked up possession in a pocket of space and drove at the Rovers defence before playing a one-two with Michael Duffy and rolling the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Ed McGinty to bring the Brandywell to its feet.

On the quarter-hour mark, Derry were in dreamland as the Foylesiders doubled their advantage through Michael Duffy. Matt Healy was dispossessed by Chapman, allowing Darragh Burns to pick up possession and play Duffy through, with the skipper making no mistake as he dispatched into the bottom corner.

Twelve minutes later, the Hoops grabbed one back through teenager Michael Noonan. Graham Burke burst up the left wing before picking out Noonan with a perfect delivery, with the youngster taking his effort first-time on his left foot to curl one beyond Tom Norcott. However, just three minutes later, Derry had a third as Chapman grabbed his second of the afternoon to restore the Candystripes’ advantage, just when the champions looked to have momentum.

Brandon Fleming cut out a loose ball forward from Healy, allowing Duffy to run at the Rovers defence. The skipper picked out Chapman on the edge of the box, with the midfielder unleashing an unstoppable effort into the bottom-right corner.

Five minutes before the break, Noonan forced a good save from Norcott with a powerful first-time effort. At the other end, Duffy struck a first-time volley towards goal, forcing a good save from McGinty as the sides went in 3-1 at the break.

After the restart, the Candystripes sat into a low block as Rovers dominated possession without creating much in the way of penetration. The first real opening came in the sixty-eighth minute as Conor Barr drilled a rasping drive from distance towards goal, but McGinty produced a full-stretch save to keep it out.

However, in the seventy-second minute, the Hoops had a lifeline. William Fitzgerald delivered a glorious left-footed cross with the outside of his boot, floating it perfectly for Graham Burke to hammer home a close-range header and halve the deficit.

Stephen Bradley rolled the dice with eleven minutes to play, and it paid immediate dividends. Graham Burke drove at the Derry defence before spraying the ball out to Fitzgerald, who dinked a superb ball into the penalty area. Substitute Dylan Watts was waiting on the penalty spot, and he showed great composure to touch the ball down before rifling his effort into the top corner to make it 3-3.

The Hoops almost snatched it right at the death as Graham Burke’s long throw was sliced by Patrick McClean, with the ball almost landing in the Derry top corner. However, Tom Norcott reacted sharply to keep it out.

Norcott came to the rescue once again deep into stoppage time, producing a full-stretch save to prevent William Fitzgerald from scoring a winner. Dylan Watts delivered a dangerous ball from the right which Fitzgerald met with his head, but Norcott pulled off a superb diving save to keep it out.

With the last action of the game, teenager Michael McColgan almost made a dream league debut after being slipped in behind the Rovers defence by Duffy, but McGinty made himself big to prevent any late drama.

The Candystripes will now turn their attention to their Club Orange FAI Cup quarter-final at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Friday evening, when they entertain Dundalk in a massive game for Mark Connolly’s men. Rovers, meanwhile, will return to action a week later when they travel to Richmond Park to take on Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic in a huge top-of-the-table clash.

Derry City: Tom Norcott; Conor Barr, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Darragh Burns (Barry Cotter 79), Adam O’Reilly, Nick Twisk (Cameron Dummigan 79), Ellis Chapman (James Olayinka 64), Michael Duffy; Tyler Smith (Michael McColgan 90).

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Adam Brennan (John McGovern 79), Adan Matthews (Jake Mulraney 69, Dan Cleary 86), Lee Grace, Cory O’Sullivan, Tunmise Sobowale; Matt Healy, Jack Byrne (Dylan Watts 78), John O’Sullivan (Will Fitzgerald 69); Michael Noonan, Graham Burke.

Referee: Paul Norton.

Attendance: 2149.