Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 - 1 Derry City

Shamrock Rovers put an end to their three game losing run when they drew one all at Tolka Park on Friday night with Derry City. Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot through Padraig Amond after thirty minutes. They looked like they were going to go on to record their first win since the end of March - but with fifteen minutes remaining and Rovers beginning to tire, Conor Sammon equalised. Rovers immediately looked for a winner but Derry managed to hold on, and in doing so shared the points for the third time in as many games.

Rovers manager Pat Scully made four changes to the side that performed so poorly in Sligo last Saturday. Barry Ferguson returned to the heart of defence and was partnered by Aidan Price. Darragh Maguire was moved into midfield. David Tyrell and Corey Tracey made their first starts of the season on the left hand side of midfield and defence. Upfront Padraig Almond joined Eoin Doyle. Tadhg Purcell failed a late fitness test.

The injured Pat McCourt was left at home in Derry so Niall McGinn and Owen Morrison continued in the wide midfield positions. Gareth McGlynn started at right back and Conor Sammon was the preferred partner to lead the line with Mark Farren.

Rovers settled into the game quickly. Full backs Ger OBrien and Corey Treacey were under orders from Scully to push up and not allow the Derry wide men much space. Maguire’s presence in midfield seemed to add some much needed steel.

Doyle had the game’s first real chance when with ten minutes on the clock he found space in the area but he dragged his left footed shot wide of the far post. Doyle and Amond then linked up well and made Derry’s centre backs Peter Hutton and Clive Delaney look sluggish. Amond picked up possession thirty five yards from goal and played a neat one two with Doyle. Derry’s keeper Ger Doherty did well to save the Carlow man’s low powerful shot.

The pacy Farren was only inches away from getting on the end of a long clearance that Ferguson and Price left for Barry Murphy. Derry looked dangerous from corner kicks and their tactic of making room at the front post for Delaney to attack nearly paid dividends on a couple of occasions. Despite the close attention of Rice and O’Brien, Morrison was again impressive and looked a danger whenever the ball was at his feet. Murphy had to be alert to keep his shot out midway through the half.

It was interplay between Rovers two young strikers that lead to referee Alan Kelly awarding a penalty just before the half hour mark. Doyle controlled well and picked out Amond a couple of yards outside the box. He turned sharply, making room for himself, and fired a shot at goal that hit Hutton’s hand.

Given the proximity between Amond and Hutton when the ball was struck it was a surprise that Kelly pointed to the spot. Hutton’s hand also seemed to be low down and not particularly far from his side. Amond converted the spot kick, placing the ball to the keepers left hand side.

Scully was keen for his side to keep possession for as much as possible immediately following the goal and for the most part they did that very well - they had no problem closing out the game for the next ten minutes although Price was called on to clear the danger on a couple of occasions. Derry then came into the game in the last five minutes of the half.

Sammon did well to keep the ball when under pressure from two players in the corner. The former UCD striker then fired in a teasing cross that Ruaidhri Higgins met at the near post with a glancing header. His touch was too delicate however and the ball ended up a couple of yards wide of the back post. Just before the half time whistle Murphy needed two attempts to save a McGinn volley from outside the box.

Derry struggled to get into the game for the first twenty five minutes of the second half, but at the same time did enough to limit the home side to just one real chance. Price headed a deep corner back into the danger area and only Doyle knows how he missed the target from three yards. Higgins then did well to cut out a cross from O’Brien after Amond had played him in with a perfectly weighted chipped pass.

Rovers looked like they were tiring after the hour mark and Derry started to come more and more into the game. It wasn't long before they were level. Morrison beat a couple of players before dinking the ball into the box from Derry’s left hand side. McGlynn had pushed forward and made a great run across the face of goal in front of the Rovers defenders. The Donegal native got his left foot around the ball and hooked a shot goal wards that looped over the Rovers keeper before striking the underside of the crossbar. Sammon reacted quickest and was first to the rebound with his head. Murphy somehow managed to get a hand to the ball but the Referees Assistant ruled the ball had crossed the line and quickly made his way back to his restart position.

In the final minutes of the game Maguire had an effort go just wide of the upright and O’Brien shot wide after he had got on the end of a Rice through ball. Derry’s Stephen Gray was booked for a cynical foul just inside his own half when Rovers were breaking in numbers with Baker totally unmarked in the middle. Morrison had shot from thirty yards saved by Murphy without too much hassle.

The draw keeps Derry in third position however Bray are now level on points with them thanks to their win over champions Drogheda. Rovers remain in eighth position, still four points ahead of UCD, and now three points behind Sligo who are directly above them.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Ger O'Brien, Barry Ferguson, Aidan Price, Corie Tracey;  Eric McGill, Stephen Rice, Darragh Maguire, David Tyrell (Sean O'Connor 65); Eoin Doyle (Dessie Baker 68), Padraig Amond (Alan Murphy 80).
Subs not used: Karl Coleman, Danny OConnor.

Booked: McGill, Doyle, Baker.

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Gareth McGlynn, Peter Hutton, Clive Delaney, Stephen Gray; Niall McGinn (Kevin McHugh 70), Barry Molloy, Ruaidhri Higgins, Owen Morrison; Mark Farren (Kevin Deery 85), Conor Sammon.
Subs not used: Paul SimonTreacy, Eddie McCallion, Aaron Callaghan.

Booked: Delaney, Gray.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 1,301