SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 2
DERRY City spoiled Shamrock Rovers’ return to the new-look Tallaght Stadium, with a statement winning result.
Goals from Ben Doherty and Jamie McGonigle sealed the hard-fought victory over the champions, who are still looking for their first win of the campaign.
Ruaidhri Higgins' men were second best for most of the first half, but came more into the encounter, which was played in front of 7,626 speactors, and always looked a threat on the break.
Stephen Bradley's side dominated for long periods in the first half with Graham Burke, Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia causing problems and they would have been disappointed not to be in front at the break.
The Brandywell men made one change to their side which saw off Cork City last week, with Sadou Diallo returning from suspension, replacing Jordan McEneff.
As for the home side, they made two changes from their team which drew at Drogheda United, with Sean Gannon and Sean Kavanagh replacing suspended duo Daniel Cleary and Lee Grace.
City captain Patrick McEleney made a tremendous last-ditch tackle inside the box, as his sliding tackle denied Burke a certain strike at goal and referee Neil Doyle rightfully waved away the home side's screams for a penalty.
Derry took the lead against the run of play as a swift counter-attack ended with Will Patching feeding Ben Doherty. The left-back raced away from Dylan Watts from the halfway line before showing great composure to fire low into Alan Mannus' bottom left corner.
The Dubliners levelled things on 26 minutes after Johnny Kenny raced in behind the City defence to latch onto Markus Poom's pass and after a superb first touch, the Sligo man blasted home his first goal for the Hoops.
Rovers missed a golden chance just 10 minutes later as another flowing move ended with Burke finding Byrne inside the box, but the Ireland international fluffed his line.
On 38 minutes, City keeper Brian Maher had to make two stunning saves, firstly booting away Trevor Clarke's effort, before somehow parrying away Burke's close-range follow-up strike.
City scored a stunning second goal on 53 minutes as Patching released Graydon down the right, his clever cut-back found McGonigle and the striker showed superb composure to fire home from close range, giving Mannus no chance.
Just after the hour mark Derry went close to adding a third as Patrick McEleney's 25-yard piledriver had to be parried away by a diving Mannus.
Rovers were denied twice in quick succession on 79 minutes as Clarke's low strike was cleared by Maher and Poom's follow-up effort, which was goal-bound, was cleared by Shane McEleney.
The Candystripes’ defending in the second half was a lot better to secure a fantastic victory at the home of the champions.
Elsewhere on Friday night there were home wins for Cork City, who beat UCD 4-0; Dundalk, who thrashed St Patrick's 5-0; Drogheda, who edged Sligo Rovers 1-0; and Shelbourne, who the all-Dublin battle with Bohemians by the same score.
Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Gannon, O'Neill, Kavanagh (Hoare 80), Clarke; Watts (Burt 80), Poom, Byrne, Burke (Power 74), Farrugia; Kenny (Gaffney 74)
Derry City: Maher, Coll, Connolly, S McEleney, Doherty; Diallo (McEneff 76), P McEleney, Patching; O'Neill (B Kavanagh 81), McGonigle (Boyce 81), Graydon (C Kavanagh 86).
Referee: Mr Neil Doyle (Dublin)
