DERRY CITY manager Peter Hutton, like the majority of the small crowd at the Brandywell, was disappointed after their 1-0 EA Sports Cup defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday.
Going into the game, Hutton said his side owed the home supporters a performance. But not for the first time this campaign, the Candystripes were disappointing all over the park.
"It was a very disappointing display, I felt in the first half we were very lethargic and looked like the exertions of the Dundalk game took its toll," Hutton said.
"We didn't get anywhere near the intensity to our previous game and that was disappointing. I felt we improved in the second half, but we just didn't do enough. The tie seemed almost like a friendly game, the atmosphere was flat, but it's up to us to try and correct that by having an edge to our game."
The defeat, which was City's third on the trot, was compounded by the fact the Brandywell men haven't scored in 442 minutes.
Derry had young goalkeeper Shaun Patton to thank early on when he made three fantastic saves in quick succession. Firstly, he did well to tip away Gareth McCaffrey's close range header and, from the resulting corner, Patton had to make two saves to deny Ryan Brennan and he somehow kept out McCaffrey's follow-up effort.
The deadlock was broken on 35 minutes in neat fashion when Seán O'Connor caught out Patton with a delightful free-kick from 20 yards, when he curled the ball high to the goalkeeper's left hand side.
Hutton had to make a change at the break, with skipper Ryan McBride, who left the pitch on crutches at half-time after he picked up what looked like a hamstring injury, being replaced by Ryan Curran.
Rovers 'keeper Craig Hyland was called into action for the first time on 58 minutes when, at the second attempt, he saved Mark Timlin's long range strike. Just after the hour mark, Patton kept his side in the game when Gavin Brennan broke the offside trap, but was denied by a smart save from the City net-minder.
Derry went close to equalising on 77 minutes when Timlin's right wing corner found Shane McEleney. His header was kept out and Ryan Curran's follow-up shot from close range was saved by Hyland.
In the closing minutes a miss-hit pass by Patton resulted in the visitors having a glorious chance to end the tie, but credit to the former Finn Harps goalkeeper who made up for his mistake and kept out Brandon Miele's strike.
St Patrick's Athletic, meanwhile, have also advanced to the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2003 - when they last won the competition – after beating Cork City 5-3 on penalties.
Jack Bayly gave the visitors the lead early in the second half before Liam Kearney drew the sides level. Neither team could find a winner in extra-time, but Liam Buckley’s men kept their composure from the spot to advance to the last four of the competition.
Derry City:Patton, Sharkey, McBride (Curran H-T), McEleney, Barry; Timlin, Clucas, Houston (Elding 73), McNamee, Jarvis; Morrison (Kelly 81).
Shamrock Rovers: Hyland, Clancy, Webster, Cornwall, D O'Connor; McCabe, R Brennan, C Kavanagh (Miele 64); S O'Connor, McCaffrey (D Kavanagh 68), Waters.
Referee:R Harvey (Dublin).
