POOM AND BUST FOR STRIPES

Markus’ injury time equaliser enough to knock Stripes off the top spot

MARKUS POOM rescued a point for Shamrock Rovers in injury-time and denied Derry City’s Danny Mullen a second super-sub match-winner in three nights.

Rovers looked set for back-to-back defeats when Mullen headed home in the 84th minute from close range – just six minutes after his arrival.

However, Estonia international Poom completed a dramatic night of high entertainment at Tallaght Stadium when he nodded home at the back post in the 92nd minute.

Incredibly, it took an hour before a goal was finally scored. Darragh Burns squeezed the ball home with Rovers’ 10th effort on goal – equalling Derry’s 10 attempts up to that point.

That was cancelled out by Patrick Hoban’s third goal in four appearances for the visitors. He netted confidently from the spot after a contentious call by referee Damien Macgraith.

Macgraith had been in the spotlight earlier when Rovers defender Lee Grace looked in danger of an early finish to his night.

He had just been booked when he put his hand on the official and gave a gentle shove.

Before Macgraith could react, the Hoops ace talked himself out of trouble, presumably by explaining that he was merely demonstrating what had just occurred.

By then, the game was swinging from end-to-end, with chances aplenty for both sides.

Aaron Greene dragged an early shot across goal and wide, while Michael Duffy was denied by a Dan Cleary block and a Leon Pohls save within seconds of each other.

Lee Grace headed a Dylan Watts corner over the bar and Burke, stretching to get his left boot to Darragh Burns’ cross, watched as the ball bounced wide of the left post.

Hoban followed that up with a wayward effort of his own, from a Paul Mcmullan centre, and Cameron Mcjannet was left with his head in his hands moments later when the ball ricocheted off his knee and into the hands of a grateful Pohls.

Duffy was frustrated again four minutes before half-time by another Cleary block.

There was no let-up after the break as both teams continued to press for the opener, with gaps appearing at either end.

Derry keeper Maher did well to keep out Markus Poom’s 59th minute header. The midfielder got plenty of power behind his effort.

Moments later, however, Maher went from hero to zero as the deadlock was finally broken.

Burke’s delightful ball behind Ben Doherty sent Burns racing into the area, and his low shot squirmed under the former Ireland Under-21 goalkeeper and into the net.

The Candystripes were finally rewarded for their attacking endeavour with 18 minutes to go, thanks to a contentious call.

Hoban fell under the challenge of Dylan Watts, who appeared to get a toe to the ball, and Macgraith pointed to the spot.

The former Dundalk striker sent Pohls the wrong way with a clinically struck penalty for his third goal of the season.

Mullen came off the bench to head home Mcmullan’s corner at the back post, and the ball dribbled over the

line.

Poom levelled in injury-time when Burns turned provider, sending the ball towards the back post for the Estonia to nod past Maher.