Sport

Rovers the happier as they hold off second-half onslaught

SOCCER/Derry City 0 Shamrock Rovers 0: DERRY City ended Shamrock Rovers’ 100 per cent record at a packed Brandywell last night…

Sat Mar 26 2011 - 00:00

SOCCER/Derry City 0 Shamrock Rovers 0:DERRY City ended Shamrock Rovers' 100 per cent record at a packed Brandywell last night, the game having sparked into life after the break. And while Rovers started with the same team that has served them well in the opening three matches, their two ineffective hitmen on the night, Gary Twigg and Gary O'Neill, were called ashore during a pulsating second period.

Michael O’Neill will have been the happier of the two managers afterwards having preserved his unbeaten record at the Brandywell since his arrival in Tallaght.

For Derry, it was a case of what should have been as they penned Rovers into their own half for long periods, but they failed to turn that possession into goals. With both teams opting to play fluent football from the outset, the teams basically cancelled each other out in the opening period but, that said, it was Derry who created any clearcut chances that did materialise. Eamon Zayed, should have broken the deadlock in the 40th minute following a corner on the right but headed the ball over the crossbar from eight yards.

Gerard Doherty had to be on his toes one minute later when Rovers winger Billy Dennehy burst clear, the Derry keeper gathering the ball at the Corkman’s feet.

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But the game burst into life after the break with Derry bossing the ball for long period and Rovers struggling to get to terms with matters in the vital areas. A superb pass from Deery in the 48th minute found the overlapping Danny Lafferty before his shot crashed off the body of a defender at the expense of a corner.

And the home side continued to press with Lafferty’s looping shot forcing the back-peddling Alan Mannus to tip the ball over the his crossbar in the 52nd minute. A good move involving McClean and Zayed threatened Rovers again but McGlynn failed to get the telling touch on the hour. McGlynn had another chance minutes later but he directed his shot straight at Mannus.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Greacen (Friars, h-t), McEleney, Lafferty; McGlynn , Molloy , Deery , McLaughlin (McDaid, 82); Harkin (McClean, 56), Zayed.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Oman, Murray, Stevens; McCabe (Kavanagh, 53), Turner , Finn, Dennehy; Twigg (O’Donnell, 75), O’Neill (Kilduff, 62)

Referee: R. Winters (Wicklow).