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Date Time League Season
1 May 2023 7:15 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2023

Match Report

Byrne stars as Rovers beat Derry to close gap

Jack Byrne ran a spellbinding first half as Rovers’ emerged victorious at Derry City thanks to sublime strikes from Richie Towell and Byrne himself.

In a meeting of last year’s top two, it was the hosts who applied early pressure, Sadou Diallo and Michael Duffy off target with presentable headers.

Gradually, Stephen Bradley’s in-form side grasped control, with Byrne increasingly prominent. 

That command soon impacted the score with Byrne beginning the move with his sublime Crossfield pass, Trevor Clarke heading down and Richie Towell chipping a stupendous lofted finish over Brian Maher, Towell as cool as a cucumber to stun the Brandywell.

Jamie McGonigle rifled high and Rovers’ rattled their host further with an unsporting attempt to listen into a team huddle!

But with the clock in red, disaster struck for the hosts.  Maher hared out of his area to the touchline, lashed the ball aimlessly high where it fell kindly to Byrne.

With thirty yards and an open goal to hit, Byrne was clinical, spanking his shot in like a peak tennis star punishing a lacklustre serve. 

A double substitution at the interval, including throwing Colm Whelan up front, changed little with Towell and Clarke guilty of squandering decent Rovers’ attacking positions with Johnny Kenny primed in the middle.

Just as Whelan began to make his physical presence felt, Rovers were forced into a change in goal, Alan Mannus picking up and innocuous looking finger injury, Leon Pohls introduced for the final thirty minutes on his birthday!

More substitutes had chances to score, Cian Kavanagh tamely aiming into Pohls before Aaron Greene accelerated up field and fired high. 

With moments remaining, the hosts got a lifeline when substitute Sean Hoare miscontrolled, Daniel Cleary tried to cover but succeeded only in hacking down Kavanagh.

Ben Doherty, scorer from the spot on Friday, hit it meekly and Pohls could celebrate a successful cameo!  Doherty’s tepid effort a neat metaphor for the gulf in attacking quality on show.

In stark contrast to their canny visitors, Derry couldn’t get talisman Michael Duffy into the contest at all whereas Byrne thrived against a creativity-deprived home midfield who will hope for quick returns for Patrick McEleney and Will Patching.

With Bohemians stuffing Cork for five earlier, it’s another showdown encounter on Friday for Rovers as they host Declan Devine’s surprise leaders.

For Derry, this unwelcome result extends a weak home record this season, they travel to Drogheda United next having dropped one place but much more momentum in the early title race. 

Derry City

1Brian Maher Goalkeeper
14Ben Doherty Midfielder
17Cameron McJannet Defender 54'
16Shane McEleney Defender
2Ronan Boyce Defender
15Sadou Diallo 29 Midfielder
28Adam O’Reilly Midfielder
7Michael Duffy Midfielder
19Ryan Graydon 20 Forward
24Ollie O’Neill 22 Forward
9Jamie McGonigle 11 Forward
26Tadhg Ryan Goalkeeper
3Ciaran Coll Defender
11Colm Whelan 9 Forward
20Brandon Kavanagh 19 Midfielder
21Matthew Ward Midfielder
22Jordan McEneff 24 Midfielder
29Cian Kavanagh 15 Forward
32Sean Patton Forward
38Liam Mullan Midfielder

Shamrock Rovers

1Alan Mannus 25 Goalkeeper
4Roberto Lopes Defender
5Lee Grace Defender
6Daniel Cleary Defender
8Ronan Finn 3 Midfielder
16Gary O’Neill Midfielder
17Richie Towell Midfielder 30'
70'
18Trevor Clarke 23 Defender 53'
19Markus Poom Midfielder
24Johnny Kenny 9 Forward
29Jack Byrne Midfielder 45+1'
41'
25Leon Pohls 1 Goalkeeper
3Sean Hoare 8 Defender
9Aaron Greene 24 Forward
10Graham Burke Forward
14Simon Power Midfielder
15Darragh Nugent Midfielder
20Rory Gaffney Forward
23Neil Farrugia 18 Midfielder
34Conan Noonan Midfielder
  • 90'

    FULL TIME: Professionally saw out, comprehensive win for Rovers!

  • 90'

    NINE minutes added on- that miss sums up a bad night for Derry

  • 86'

    MISSED PENALTY- Ben Doherty hits it straight at Pohls! It was given after Cleary hacked Cian Kavanagh down following dozy Hoare defending- let-off for Rovers!

  • 85'

    PENALTY TO DERRY CITY

  • 84'

    Change out wide with Brandon Kavanagh replacing Graydon, Rovers still in total command here

  • 77'

    Stephen Bradley's side enjoying their two-goal buffer and bring Neil Farrugia and Sean Hoare on for the closing stages

  • 72'

    Subs making their presence felt as first Kavanagh pokes tamely at Pohls before Greene cuts inside and fires over, Derry need the next goal and quickly to salvage anything

  • 70'

    Dark arts from goal scorer Towell who blocks a Derry throw to collect Rovers' third yellow card

  • 67'

    More changes for both as Cian Kavanagh and Aaron Greene enter the fray, respectively

  • 63'

    First time I've mentioned Alan Mannus tonight, he's recieving treatment on his finger. Before that, Whelan had caused some panic to Rovers who won't mind the stoppage stalling Derry's momentum. Leon Pohls has to come on for Mannus, on his birthday!

  • 54'

    Mcjannet the first Derry man carded and from the free kick, Byrne's excellent delivery almost yeilds a third goal- Rovers cruising and in complete control

  • 53'

    Clarke sees yellow for fouling Diallo

  • 52'

    Chances for Towell and Clarke, Johnny Kenny furious he didn't receive it

  • 46'

    Back underway, mountain for the Candystripes to climb here. And Ruaidhri Higgins has acted- Jordan McEneff and Colm Whelan on for O'Neill and McGonigle

  • 45'

    And that's HT, wow!

  • Nightmare for Derry and Maher! The goalkeeper rushes out, boots aimlessly and Byrne lashes in a ruthless finish from beyond the box!

  • 41'

    Byrne with a nibble on home defender Shane McEleney which earns him the night's first booking

  • 38'

    A home team huddle is attempted to be overheard by Grace and Daniel Cleary, bit of handbags ensue!

  • 32'

    Game needed that goal, let's see if the hosts can reply

  • 30'

    Richie Towell, WHAT A FINISH! Brilliant by Rovers! Byrne begins it with a quality aerial pass, it's headed down by Lee Grace and from the left side of the area, Towell delicately chips Brian Maher, sublime!!

  • 23'

    Cagey spell here as both sides feeling each other out. In Colm Whelan and Rory Gaffney, both possess potentially game-changing forwards to introduce if needs be later on

  • 17'

    Few visiting corners come to nought before Ben Doherty wins a free as Derry seek to regain a foothold

  • 10'

    No surprise that Rovers' most controlled spell of the game comes with Jack Byrne conducting things at the heart of midfield. Big night for Diallo, Adam O'Reilly and Ollie O'Neill in there without Patrick McEleneny, Will Patching and Cameron Dummigan as last season's enforcers

  • 6'

    Michael Duffy heads off target from Ryan Graydon's pinpoint cross, Derry dominating the opening exchanges. Rovers need to take a breath

  • 3'

    Sadou Diallo sends a timid header into Alan Mannus' waiting arms as the sides settle down early here

  • KICK OFF! Belting night for a game!

  • One change for Derry with Jamie McGonigle preferred up front to Cian Kavanagh

  • Hello and welcome to today's bank holiday LOI games! The evening game sees Derry City welcome Champions Shamrock Rovers, kick off at the Brandywell is at 7:15pm

Past Meetings

(Round 3)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC 1-2 Derry City FC

(Men's Final)
2 - 0
President's Cup
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers

(Round 35)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Derry City

(Quarter Final)
3 - 1
FAI Cup
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC V Shamrock Rovers

(Round 27)
0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

(Round 15)
1 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City

(Round 2)
2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 29)
2 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City

(Series 21)
2 - 4
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 11)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City

(Series 2)
0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers

(Series 16)
2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City

(Series 7)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City v Shamrock Rovers

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

0 - 0
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

6 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

0 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

3 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

0 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

2 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

3
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

4 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

7:45 pm
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Derry City FC v Shamrock Rovers FC

1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers FC v Derry City FC

Ground

Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Ryan McBride Brandywell, Derry, Northern Ireland, BT48 6NP, United Kingdom