Shamrock Rovers 0

Derry City 2

Derry City are now eight points clear of Shamrock Rovers in third place as they took a huge step towards European football with a win at Tallaght.

The Candy Stripes struck at crucial times in a tensely-fought game, with Rovers on top until Aaron McEneff struck Derry ahead. Rovers then pushed for the equaliser but were caught out in injury time when Barry McNamee lobbed goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski from half way.

There was very little between the two sides but on 42 minutes Derry almost took the lead in spectacular fashion thanks to some quick thinking from Aaron McEneff. The midfielder stood over a City free kick some 30 yards from goal, but while everyone, including Rovers goalkeeper Chencinski expected a cross, McEneff went directly for goal. The ball was headed into the top corner but Chencinski reacted just in time to push the ball back down into the penalty area where Darren Cole looked like he would put the rebound into the net only for a nudge in the back to take the chance away from the City defender.

There was only one team in the game after the break as Rovers continued their pressing game on Derry and dominated possession as a result. The Candy Stripes were fortunate not to concede in a one-sided period as the hosts dictated the play, with City unable to gain any possession of the ball, more often than not gifting the ball to green and white shirts.

Rovers were completely on top but Derry stunned Tallaght by taking the lead on 64 minutes by a goal completely out of the blue.

The goal came just as Derry were starting to threaten for the first time, and after Jarvis’ cross was cleared, McNamee battled to get the ball to McEneff, who, with no challenge forthcoming, took on the shot, and his effort from 25 yards completely wrong-footed Chencinski in the Rovers goal, with the ball nestling in the bottom corner, must to the dismay of Tallaght.

Rovers were stunned by that and they were almost out of it completely when Derry came so close to making it 2-0 on 71 minutes.

Five minutes of added time were signalled at the end of the game, and Rovers won their fifth corner of the game. Goalkeeper Chencinski even came forward as every Rovers player packed into the area, but it backfired spectacularly, as Derry broke, and with the goalkeeper scrambling back, Barry McNamee picked his spot from the halfway line, wo make it 2-0 deep in added time to end the game.

Teams

Shamrock Rovers: Tomer Chencinski, Luke Byrne (Sean Boyd 83’), David Webster, Lee Grace, Ronan Finn, Brandon Miele, Gary Shaw, David McAllister (Michael O’Connor 87’), Simon Madden, Trevor Clarke, Graham Burke.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Conor McDermott, Aaron Barry, Darren Cole, Ben Doherty (Harry Monaghan 65’), Ronan Curtis, Rory Holden (Dean Jarvis 57’), Barry McNamee, Aaron McEneff, Lukas Schubert (Nathan Boyle 81’), Rory Patterson.

Referee: Robert Harvey.

If you have a story or want to send a photo or video to us please contact the Derry Now editorial team on 028 7129 6600 for Derry City stories Or 028 7774 3970 for County Derry stories. Or you can email gareth@derrynews.net at any time.