DERRY City may have ended Shamrock Rovers early season winning run, but the Candystripes will feel they deserved more following a thrilling second half at the Brandywell.

 

After a first half which saw both teams basically cancel each other out, it was the home side that sparked into life in a pulsating second half in which they penned their opponents into their own territory for long periods.

 

But while Derry may have bossed the ball, they failed to breach what was a disciplined Rovers defence in which Ken Oman and Dan Murray dominated the aerial exchanges.

 

Rovers started with the same team that has served them well over the opening three matches of the campaign but on this occasion, their two hitmen were well marshalled with Gary Twigg and Gary O’Neill eventually called ashore during the second period.

 

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.

 

That said, 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 Cork man’s feet.

 

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 agin but McGlynn failed to get the telling touch as the ball sped across the edge of the six yard box on the hour.

 

McGlynn had another chance minutes later but he directed his shot straight at Mannus and the chance was lost.

 

The introduction of substitute, James McClean, continued to spark the home side into life and while spurred on by an estimated 3,000 supporters, the failed to breach what had been a disciplined and resolute Rovers defence.

 

DERRY CITY – Doherty; McCallion, Greacen (Friars 46), S 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).