Derry City beat 10-man Shamrock Rovers to clinch second spot

Derry City secured their first win in eleven encounters over ten-man Shamrock Rovers, running out 2-1 victors at a windswept and rainy Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A fortunate first-half Brandon Fleming goal followed by an emphatic Sadou Diallo finish minutes from time saw the Candystripes defeat the champions-in-waiting, who have now gone eleven games without a clean sheet and just one win in five.

The result secures Derry’s place in European football next summer with a mathematical possibility of still finishing top. The Hoops’ advantage is cut to three points, but they have a game in hand over Derry with just one round of matches left to play.

Rovers also have a much healthier goal difference than the Candystripes, with just a point needed from their final two games to secure their fifth title in six years.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors when Carl Winchester gave the ball away far too cheaply in the sixth minute. The former Ireland international picked up Winchester’s loose pass and unleashed a blistering, dipping left-footed effort that seemed destined for the top corner but for Brian Maher’s stunning save to keep it out.

In the 23rd minute, Derry hit the front with a fortuitous opener from their first real attack. Brandon Fleming was put into space on the left wing after a leaping header from Adam O’Reilly to win possession. The Englishman whipped in a dangerous cross toward the far post that completely deceived Ed McGinty and dipped into the top corner for his first ever senior career goal.

In the 35th minute, the ever-dangerous Burke tried to respond for the Hoops with an effort from distance. However, this time his looping shot was directly at Maher. Lee Grace followed up shortly after with a header on target, but it didn’t trouble the Derry shot-stopper.

Derry were forced to soak up plenty of pressure from the visitors for the remainder of the half as they went in search of an equaliser, but the Candystripes’ low block forced chances to a minimum.

After the restart, Rovers continued to apply pressure to the Derry backline, with Josh Honohan coming close to equalising four minutes in. Roberto Lopes drove from deep before squaring the ball to emerging star Michael Noonan. The 17-year-old drilled a dangerous ball across the box, landing to Honohan at the back post, but Ronan Boyce heroically denied him with a diving block.

In the 56th minute, a dazzling run from Brandon Fleming saw him hauled down at the endline by Lee Grace, with the experienced Rovers defender picking up a yellow card. From the resulting free-kick, Michael Duffy squared the ball to the unmarked Sadou Diallo at the edge of the box, but his rasping shot was straight at McGinty.

Three minutes later, Fleming was again hauled down by Grace at the edge of the area. Grace escaped without a second yellow, but Duffy’s free kick stung the gloves of McGinty.

Barely ninety seconds later, Fleming produced another incredible run and turned Grace inside out before he was chopped down just outside the box. This time referee Paul McLaughlin had no choice but to brandish a second yellow, reducing Rovers to ten men, with Grace collecting his seventh career red card.

Sensing blood, Derry pushed for a second. In the 63rd minute McGinty saved Todd’s header, and moments later an Adam O’Reilly cross toward Duffy flashed inches wide of the post. Carl Winchester was next to have a go, but his effort from 35 yards never looked likely to trouble McGinty.

Four minutes from time, Derry sealed their win. The tenacious Michael Duffy overturned possession from Roberto Lopes and squared the ball to the onrushing Diallo, who emphatically dispatched it beyond McGinty to bring the Brandywell to its feet.

However, Rovers weren’t done just yet. Deep into added time, in the eighth minute of stoppage, the Hoops pulled one back through Rory Gaffney, who volleyed Conor O’Malley’s cross into the net from close range.

Derry will finish the season with a trip to already-relegated Cork City. Meanwhile, Rovers will look to secure their fifth title in six years at home to either Galway United midweek or Sligo Rovers next Saturday.

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly (Sam Todd 29), Michael Duffy, Adam O’Reilly, Gavin Whyte (Adam Frizzell 68), Robbie Benson (Sadou Diallo 46), Brandon Fleming, Carl Winchester, Jamie Stott, Cameron Dummigan.

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Roberto Lopes, Josh Honohan, Lee Grace, Dylan Watts (John McGovern 82), Aaron McEneff (Rory Gaffney 64), Graham Burke, Darragh Nugent, Michael Noonan (Dan Cleary 66), Matt Healy (Conor Malley 79), Corey O’Sullivan.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin