Aaron Greene rescues point for Shamrock Rovers against Derry to extend lead

A quadruple substitution by Rovers with 20 minutes to play changed the complexion of the game

Aaron Greene scored an 83rd minute equaliser for Shamrock Rovers against Derry. Pic: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 1

EVEN without their World Cup hero Pico Lopes, Shamrock Rovers are inching towards their sixth title in seven seasons by enjoying a six-point buffer at the summit.

The Hoops seemed to be staring a second defeat over three games in the face as Derry City led through Liam Boyce’s first goal of the season until Stephen Bradley altered the complexion with a quadruple substitution with 20 minutes left.

Two of the newcomers, strikers John McGovern and Aaron Greene, combined with seven minutes left by darting from the half-way line, resulting in the latter opening his body to angle his shot from the left into the far corner.

Another sub, Naj Razi, went close to nabbing the winner with a long-range strike turned around the post but the late collapse was symptomatic of Derry’s languid season that sees them in the bottom half with just one win from the last 10.

Pressure on manager Tiernan Lynch isn’t subsiding and James McClean’s recent comments are lingering.

Rovers knew they were in a battle from the get-go when their kick-off was disrupted by Matt Healy being charged off the ball.

That still didn’t seem to wake them up because only two-and-a-half minutes were clocked when Timi Sobowale belied the humid evening to deliver a brain-freeze moment.

It wouldn’t be the only lapse by the Waterfordman and he was also guilty of wasting a sitter to nick all three points in stoppage time.

His first blemish was to loft a pass across his 18-yard line directly into the line of fire.

Adam O’Reilly gleefully accepted the stray ball, the Corkman taking one touch before unleashing a 20-yard strike which, aided by a deflection, crashed off the underside of the crossbar.

As Rovers have perfected, a counterattack sprang from that scare but as Graham Burke shaped to shoot from 30 yards, in slid James McClean to floor his former Ireland teammate.

Not only did McClean – starting for the first time in a month - protest the booking dished out by Aaron O’Dowd but the free-kick decision itself.

Once the wall did its job from Jake Mulraney’s attempt, Derry were back in the ascendancy.

Michael Duffy’s 11th minute corner was only half-cleared back into his path and he rasped a low drive marginally past the far post.

Dominant in midfield and dangerous from the flanks, the visitors made that foothold count with a brilliant breakthrough goal on 25 minutes.

O’Reilly, by far the best player on the pitch over the 95 minutes, availed of space to plough a furrow from the halfway line. With McClean for support on left, he awaited his moment to lay the ball off and it allowed the veteran to whip his cross for Boyce to stoop low and flick his header high beyond the stretch of Ed McGinty.

It constituted a deserved opener for Derry. All they had to do was avoid short back passes to poacher Michael Noonan.

The teen striker, who has Nottingham Forest as the latest suitor queuing up to sign him after he turns 18 next month, was twice denied by Ed Beach in the first half.

Patrick McClean’s underhit backpass presented the first opening and the stopper, keeping the returning Brian Maher on the bench, repeated the trick when a replica Darragh Markey blunder also gave Noonan a clean run at goal.

Derry, and James McClean in particular, were mightily relieved that the referee didn’t adjudge his brush off Dylan Watts on the half hour worthy of a penalty. Had the spot-kick been awarded, not only would have Derry lost their lead but likely their marquee capture to a second booking.

Either side of the break, the Candystripes seemed comfortable in protecting their lead. Indeed, two opportunities to swell their lead were squandered just past the hour mark.

Boyce couldn’t wrap his foot around O'Reilly's squared pass while Duffy was also unable to apply the finish on the edge of the box from Sobowale’s howler. McGinty stood tall again to keep the Hoops in the game.

Those misses would cost Derry but Rovers only need worry about second placed St Pat’s catching them by winning the two games in hand. History shows they’ll be ready to withstand any complications.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: E McGinty; T Sobowale, L Grace, C O’Sullivan (J McGovern 70); A Brennan, M Healy, D Watts (J O’Sullivan 70), J Mulraney (M Kovalevskis 76); J Byrne, G Burke (N Razi 70); M Noonan (A Greene 70).

DERRY CITY: E Beach; B Cotter, C Barr, P McClean, B Fleming; C Dummigan (J Olayinka 57), J McClean (T Doherty 72); K Dos Santos (D Markey 24, J Olayinka 57), A O’Reilly, M Duffy; L Boyce (L Kelly 73).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin).

Attendance: 3726.