Derry hold Hoops

Derry City 0 Shamrock Rovers 0

Stephen Kenny's Derry put the brakes on Shamrock Rovers terrific winning start to the season by holding the champions scoreless at a packed Brandywell.

Derry were stunned before the game to hear that striker Patrick McEleney was suspended from playing for them after he failed to report for under-19 duty with the Republic of Ireland.

The sides cancelled each other out in a disappointing first half. But the game sprang to life after the break with Derry pinning Rovers in their own half for good spells.

Danny Lafferty forced Hoops' keeper Alan Mannus to tip over his bar seven minutes in while Gareth McGlynn just failed to get the vital touch to force home an Eamon Zayed cross.