Derry City 0
Shamrock Rovers 0
SHAMROCK ROVERS may have slipped further behind league leaders Dundalk last night but Pat Fenlon’s men remain unbeaten after a battling draw at Brandywell.
While the Hoops were searching for a third consecutive away win in the league for the first time since the 1972/73 season, they would have been grateful to take a point back to Tallaght.
Ireland international Keith Fahey was shown a second yellow card in the final minute of the game for simulation but Derry were unable to capitalise during six minutes stoppage time.
Barry McNamee had the best of Derry’s chances either side of the half but was twice denied by two excellent tackles from Rovers defenders.
The Ramelton man found himself through on goal from a Patrick McEleney pass in the first half but David Webster produced an excellent tackle to deny him a shot on goal.
And in the second half McNamee burst through the middle and looked certain to score but Rovers skipper, Conor Kenna denied him with a late tackle.
Rovers could have stole maximum points in the end despite their numerical disadvantage but David O’Connor headed narrowly over from Brandon Miele’s free-kick.
The first noteworthy incident of a bore first half arrived on 21 minutes when Shamrock Rovers midfielder Ryan Brennan made claims for a penalty.
Brennan raced into the Derry penalty area and went down following the slightest of touches from Shane McEleney who saw the ball out and the referee awarded a goal kick.
The home side came closest to a breakthrough on 37 minutes when Patrick McEleney slipped the ball through the middle of the Rovers defence and McNamee was denied a shot on goal by a superb tackle from Webster.
Derry made a bright opening to the second half and Anthony Elding produced the game’s first shot on target two minutes in with a well struck left foot shot but Craig Hyland saved comfortably.
Elding intercepted Webster’s short back-pass on 58 minutes and with McEleney supporting in a great position, the Derry striker opted to lob Hyland who was some way off his line but the ball nestled on the roof of the net.
Two minutes later and Fahey did superbly on the left flank to play in Ryan Brennan who sliced his first time effort narrowly the wrong side of the post.
City midfielder, McNamee burst clean through on goal on 75 minutes as the Rovers defence hesitated but just when he was about to unleash his shot Kenna slid in cleanly to superbly dispossess the Donegal man,
Rovers were reduced to 10 men when Fahey was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the final minute of regulation time.
And despite Derry’s dominance at that stage, Rovers could have taken full points but O’Connor headed agonisingly over.
DERRY CITY: G. Doherty; S. Sharkey, R. McBride, S. McEleney, A. Barry; C. Morrison (R. Curran 77), P. Lowry, B. McNamee, P. McEleney (S. Clucas 85), M. Timlin; A. Elding.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: C. Hyland; S. Madden, D. Webster, C. Kenna, D. O’Connor 6; S. O’Connor (B. Miele, 82), P. Cregg, R. Brennan (S. McPhail 63), K. Fahey, G. Brennan, M. Drennan.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Man of the match – Patrick McEleney (Derry City)