Hoops escape siege in Derry

DERRY CITY halted Rovers 100% start to the season at the Brandywell last night, but Michael O’Neill will have been the happier of the two managers afterwards.

For Derry, it was a case of what should have been as they dominated a pulsating second half in which they penned the Hoops into their own half for long periods but failed to beat Rovers’ keeper, Alan Mannus.

With both teams opting to play fluent football from the outset, it was Derry who created the better scoring chances in what was an end-to-end first half.

Derry striker, Eamon Zayed, should have broken the deadlock in the 40th minute following a corner on the right but he directed his header over the crossbar.

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 former Cork City man’s feet.

The game sparked into action after the break and while Danny Lafferty, Gareth McGlynn and Libyan international Zayed missed clear-cut opportunities, the home side had to settle for a share of the spoils in the end.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, Greacen (Friars, h-t), 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).