Derry City 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
SHAMROCK ROVERS MOVED into second place in the Airtricity Premier Division thanks to a superb long-distance Gary McCabe strike.
The Rovers midfielder’s long range effort on 34 minutes proved enough to condemn a youthful Candystripes to defeat and it was a well deserved win for Trevor Croly’s troops. Barry McNamee should really have levelled the game shortly after that opening strike but somehow screwed his close range shot wide.
However, Derry were fortunate that Barry Molloy was well placed to clear Karl Sheppard’s goalbound shot off the line on the stroke of half-time.
Roddy Collins handed Tony McNamee, Cormac Burke and Nathan Boyle their first league starts in the absence of the injured Patrick McEleney and suspended Rory Patterson in a much changed line-up from the team which started away to Bohemians the previous weekend.
And the home lot made a bright start to the game as the lively Tony McNamee, making his first league start, laid the ball into the path of Enda Curran on five minutes but the striker blasted his shot wide.
Roddy Collins Jr. and Cormac Burke linked up well on the right flank shortly afterwards but the latter’s drilled shot across goal was easily dealt with.
Rovers almost caught Derry napping at the back on 12 minutes when Sheppard latched onto a long punt up-field but the striker dragged his shot wide at the far post.
The Hoops then took the lead on 34 minutes when McCabe’s strike from 30 yards crept under the hands of Gerard Doherty who was at full stretch and nestled into the corner of the net.
Barry McNamee missed a glorious chance to restore parity four minutes later when he received the ball from Enda Curran inside the penalty area, but somehow sliced his shot well wide.
Barry Molloy then came to Derry’s rescue just before the interval when clearing Sheppard’s close range shot off the line.
Rovers claimed for a penalty 10 minutes after the restart when Stephen McPhail went down under the challenge of Molloy but referee, Tomas Connelly waved away the protests.
Derry somehow survived a brisk attack from Rovers on the hour mark. Sheppard got in behind Molloy and Roddy Collins Jr. but the striker appeared to lose his footing at the vital moment and Waters’ follow-up strike went high over the bar.
McCabe then flashed a shot wide of Derry’s far post as Rovers went in search of a second going into the final 15 minutes.
The home side’s only chance in the second period arrived on 80 minutes when Ryan McBride headed narrowly over from a corner kick as Derry never really got going.
Rovers comfortably saw the game out after this and leapfrogged Dundalk into second spot.
Derry City: G. Doherty: R. Collins, R. McBride, Cliff Byrne, A. Barry; B. McNamee (M. Stewart 72), B. Molloy, T. McNamee, C. Burke; E. Curran (M. Duffy 65), N. Boyle (R. Curran 77);
Subs Not Used: C. Gallagher, D. Jarvis, D Ventre, D. Elebert.
Shamrock Rovers: B. Murphy; S. Madden, C. Kenna, J. McGuinness, L. Byrne; G. McCabe, S. Robinson, S .McPhail (R. Brennan 83), K. M. Waters; K. Sheppard, C. Kilduff;
Subs Not Used: C. Hyland, R. Cornwall, S. O’Connor, D. O’Connor, R. Bayly, D. Kelly.
Referee: Tomas Connolly (Dublin).
Other Airtricity Premier Division and First Division results:
- Bohemians 0-0 UCD
- Bray 1-0 Limerick
- St Pat’s 3-2 Cork City
- Waterford 0-1 Shelbourne