League of Ireland Premier Division
Derry City 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
Hoban (87)
Greene (57 & 62); Towell (70)
Champions Shamrock Rovers produced a tremendous away day performance, to deservedly see off a disappointing Derry City side, at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Aaron Greene’s quick fire brace after the break gave them the lead, before Richie Towell’s close range third goal sealed the points, as the Hoops moved into third spot, just three points behind leaders Shelbourne.
For Ruaidhri Higgins’ side, who like so many times during his stint as manager, had chances and played well for periods, but in truth they never looked like getting back into the encounter after Greene’s opener. The Candy Stripes, have now conceded 13 goals in their opening 11 league games with only bottom side Dundalk and lowly Drogheda United conceding more than the Foyelsiders.
With the large home support backing them Derry began the contest on the front foot but Michael Duffy’s left wing strike, which had Leon Pohls scrambling, but the Rovers goalkeeper managed to turn the effort away for a corner.
Soon after Rovers midfielder Gary O’Neill was given far too much space some 25 yards from goal, but his low drive was straight at City net-minder Brian Maher. Derry thought they had broken the deadlock on 12 minutes as Daniel Mullen made no mistake from close range, but his celebrations were cut short as the assistant’s flag was up and the goal was ruled out for offside.
Rovers missed a sitter to take the lead on 20 minutes as Greene broke the offside trap, but his close range shot was saved by Maher and as the ex-Sligo Rovers man found Towell with the rebound, but the midfielder’s effort from point-blank range was blocked on the line by Ben Doherty. Just after the half-hour mark Derry again won the ball high up the pitch, but Duffy’s curling right footed strike, which was goal-bound, was superbly tipped away by Pohls.
Minutes later the lively Paul McMullan went close, but his miss hit shot from the edge of the box was straight at Pohls.
The woodwork came to Rovers’ rescue on 40 minutes as Mullen’s outstanding curling effort with his left foot from 20 yards, which had Pohls beaten, came crashing back off the post. Mullen who was at the heart of all the positive play in Derry’s final third went close on 50 minutes, but his snap-shot from 20 yards, flew over Pohls’ crossbar. Pohls was called into action again soon after this time he booted away Ronan Boyce’s low drive, after the Derry right-back had found space inside the Derry box. A defensive mistake by Shane McEleney let in Greene moments later but the striker’s shot was well parried around the post by Maher.
The deadlock was broken on 57 minutes as Greene broke the offside trap before making no mistake, firing home into Maher’s bottom left hand corner, to spark wild celebrations amongst the travelling support.
Greene doubled his tally for the evening some five minutes later as Dylan Watts’ clever pass released the striker and he coolly showed his class by lifting the ball over the out-rushing Maher and into the net.
The Dubliners sealed the points on 69 minutes as Daniel Kelly lost possession before Graham Burke raced into the Derry penalty box, before slotting the ball across to an unmarked Towell, who gleefully side footed home from close range.
Rovers were fuming that they conceded on 87 minutes as Derry substitute Pat Hoban netted his seventh goal of the season, turning the ball home at the back post, after Kelly’s cross had picked him out. Derry’s miserable night was summed up when in stoppage time a flare was thrown into the ground over the wall and set fire to the pitch.
Derry City:
Maher, McEleney (Kelly 65), Connolly, McJannet; Boyce, O’Reilly, Patching, McMullan, Doherty; Duffy (Hoban 65), Mullen.
Shamrock Rovers:
Pohls, Honohan, Lopes, Cleary (Barrett 81); Watts, Poom, O’Neill (Clarke 60), Burke (Kenny 72), Towell, Greene (Gaffney 72), Burns (Nugent 72).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Ardee).