THE PUPIL BECAME the master in Tallaght Stadium this evening as Derry City took a huge step towards the Setanta Sports Cup final with a 3-0 win against holders Shamrock Rovers.
It was Stephen Kenny’s first meeting against his old club since leaving Derry to take the Rovers job late last year but it was his former assistant at the Brandywell Declan Devine who was smiling at the end of the semi-final first leg.
Rovers found themselves on the back foot early on and were down to 10 men in the 12th minute when South African goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse was shown a straight red card for a foul on David McDaid in the box. Oscar Jansson came off the bench to save McDaid’s penalty but Candystripes captain Kevin Deery was on hand to convert the rebound.
Patrick McEleney stretched the visitors’ lead with a scorcher from all of 30 yards six minutes after the restart and, as Rovers pushed on in an attempt to salvage something to take with them to the Brandywell, Derry got their third on the break. McEleney turned provider, crossing for Ryan McBride to head past Jansson.
In the other semi-final, Crusaders are in pole position to progress after a brace from veteran David Rainey gave them a 2-0 win at home to Sligo Rovers.
The Belfast side took the lead four minutes before the break when Rainey got a touch on the end of Chris Morrow’s fiercely-struck free-kick, enough to take it past Gary Rogers and into the net.
Sligo’s best chances came through Raffaele Cretaro but they were caught napping nine minutes from the end when Rainey rose highest to head home David McMaster’s corner.
Results: Setanta Sports Cup semi-final first leg
- Shamrock Rovers 0-3 Derry City
- Crusaders 2-0 Sligo Rovers
