League Report: Derry City 2 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

It is advantage Shamrock Rovers still in the race for third spot in the league and the guaranteed European spot that goes with it but only just after they drew 2-2 with Derry City at the Brandywell on Tuesday evening. Derry will probably feel they left a great opportunity behind them as two quick fire goals from Ronan Curtis gave them a first half advantage. However, Hoops goals from Gary McCabe and a late Stephen McPhail free kick saw the spoils shared on the Bogside. The Hoops hold third place by a point over the Candystripes going into the final four games of the season.

Kenny Shiels went with the same starting XI, and the exact same bench, from last Friday’s Derry defeat in Oriel Park against Dundalk. The Hoops lined with a flat back four rather than three at the back which they had used when being overrun by Cork City in the FAI Cup earlier in the month.

The two teams tested each other out in the opening period with no joy. Simon Madden looked to get forward from his Rovers right back position. When he managed to get by Dean Jarvis he could only hit a weak shot which didn’t trouble Ger Doherty. On the other side Gary McCabe had a couple of centres curled into the box after City conceded free kicks in dangerous positions but he couldn’t find a Rovers head.

Having not truly troubled the Rovers defence, the Candystripes took a quick two goal advantage thanks to Ronan Curtis. He opened the scoring on 17 minutes when he opened up his body brilliantly to curl a right foot effort from the edge of the box low into the corner past the despairing dive of Barry Murphy.

Two minutes later he doubled Derry’s lead, as running across the front of the six yard box he blasted home Barry McNamee's centre. Derry dominated for the next quarter of an hour as Rovers struggled to retain possession.

Murphy was required to rush out of his penalty area to volley a Conor McCormack pass over the top with Ronan Curtis lurking to get a touch and claim a hat-trick. Curtis then turned provider with his cross spectacularly volleyed goalwards by Lucas Schubert but wide of the target.

Tempers began to fray after this point with five players going in the book ahead of half time before McCabe pulled a goal back for the Hoops six minutes from the break.

Gary Shaw's sliding tackle on Aaron McEneff won the ball in a dangerous area. Stephen McPhail had plenty of adrenaline in him as he and McEneff had just squared up moments before both going in the referee’s book.

McPhail was quickly onto the ball to return it to Shaw. His pass fell beautifully into the path of McCabe on the right and he rifled the ball into the net with Ger Doherty just looking on with Derry taking a one goal half time led.

Derry had the first chance of the second period. On 54 minutes a superb volleyed cross field pass from McEneff found Curtis. His delivery was on the head of the onrushing Barry McNamee but he was wasteful with his header.

It was a similar story two minutes later at the other end when Shaw had a golden chance to equalise but he side footed McCabe’s cross just wide of the post.

City were mindful of Rovers’ attacking threat and they were forced into conceding a number of corners throughout the game but McPhail’s and McCabe’s delivery in the difficulty windy conditions couldn’t count.

From one Rovers corner on 66 minutes, City managed to break quickly with Conor McCormack finding himself in an unaccustomed advanced position. The ball fell nicely for the City midfielder against his former club but he fired his volleyed shot well over the bar.

When substitute Brandon Miele won his team a corner he didn’t waste the delivery 14 minutes from time. His right foot centre was powered goalwards by David Webster but Derry ‘keeper Doherty pulled off a fine save whipping the ball away from under his own crossbar.

However the Hoops scored from the next set piece seven minutes from time to earn a draw. Dean Jarvis went in the book when he took down Madden wide on the right. McPhail whipped the ball into the box and it bounced in front of the Rovers attack but with Doherty left in no man’s land in drifted inside his right hand post.

Derry take a break from the league this weekend as they take on Dundalk in an FAI Cup semi-final clash on Sunday afternoon. The Hoops will also have one eye on the semi-finals as if Cork City can beat St. Pat’s in the other tie, then fourth place in the league will guarantee Rovers a spot in Europe next season but they look to have done enough tonight to keep third place.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Conor McDermott, Max Karner, Niclas Vemmelund, Dean Jarvis; Aaron McEneff, Conor McCormack; Lucas Shubert (Harry Monaghan 71), Barry McNamee, Ronan Curtis (Nathan Boyle 85); Rory Patterson.

Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Keith Ward, Josh Daniels, Cristian Castells, Ben Doherty.

Booked: Barry McNamee (33), Aaron McEneff (38), Max Karner (73), Dean Jarvis (82).

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, David O'Connor, Sean Heaney, Trevor Clarke; Gary McCabe, Stephen McPhail, David Webster, Dean Clarke (Brandon Miele 72); Sean Boyd, Gary Shaw (Aaron Dobbs 77).  

Subs not used: Michael Quinn (gk), Shane Hanney, Aaron Bolger, James Doona,.

Booked: David O’Connor (29), Sean Boyd (37), Stephen McPhail (38), Aaron Dobbs (90+3).

Referee: Robert Harvey.

Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ronan Curtis (Derry City).

You can see pictures from the game as taken by John-Paul McGinley here.