DANNY DENIES BRAVE DERRY
THE Candystripes came, saw and if they didn’t conquer the champions, they left their red and white calling card at Tallaght Stadium with the message: ‘We’ll fight for this title, lads.’
It’s one of the anomalies of Derry’s membership of the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland that they’ve only been crowned champions twice, in 1989 and 1997.
The return is modest when set against their cluster of FAI Cup and League Cup triumphs, many secured under Irish manager Stephen Kenny, who was among the 7,126 attendance.
Might that change this year? We’re not far off half-way and Derry lie four points behind Shamrock Rovers after snatching a harsh defeat from the jaws of victory last night.
As the impressive Will Patching said post-match: ‘We have got to take our chances. It’s not over and we will fight to the end.’
For 70 minutes, Derry dominated but Stephen Bradley turned to his bench and conjured up a winning cameo from substitute Danny Mandroiu in the 79th minute.
‘Scoring goals is my job. I’ve come on and made an impact and the three points is all that matters. Derry are well organised but we go to the end and we don’t stop,’ said Mandroiu, whose match-winner was akin to a strike against the head, which happens in football.
Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley, watching with his dad Mick, has seen similar outcomes on the final day of golf’s majors.
The result means Derry’s wait for a first win in Tallaght since 2017 continues but Ruaidhri Higgins knows they will play worse than this and win matches this season.
Rovers were put on the back foot from the tip-off when Derry played the ball deep towards Rovers full-back Sean Gannon, who was blinded by the sun, and forced to concede a throw-in.
Inside the first minute, Derry were awarded two corners as they rapped out a message of intent – they had come here to put it up to the champions.
By the break, Rovers were fortunate to be on level terms as Derry dictated the play and should have been in front.
It was an indication of the balance of play that the biggest cheer from the Rovers fans was for striker Rory Gaffney tracking back at full throttle to curb a Derry attack.
The visitors had two gilt-edged chances either side of the midway point of the half to take the lead. The first opening saw Derry end up with three attackers on one defender in the Rovers box, with the ball at the feet of top scorer Jamie McGonigle.
Rather than go for goal himself, he elected to tee up Matty Smith but the pass was over-cooked and the opportunity was lost.
What must have concerned Bradley was the way Rovers were cleaved apart by the swift Derry counter-attack leading up to the chance.
The lesson wasn’t heeded and Rovers were almost undone in the 26th minute when Brandon
Kavanagh, who had been involved in the earlier move, whipped over an inch-perfect pass from the left which fell to McGonigle at the far post.
This time the SSE Airtricity Player of the Month didn’t hesitate and found the target from close range only for Alan Mannus to block superbly. The rebound fell to Smith but he found the side netting.
It was one-way traffic as Rovers were unable to establish a bridgehead in the trenches where Derry were on top with Cameron Dummigan and Patching.
There were a couple of long range pops but Brian Maher wasn’t troubled in the Derry goal. And the pattern continued deep into the final quarter, with Maher less involved than Mannus.
The veteran keeper advanced off his line to block Daniel Lafferty’s effort after the left-back marauded forward.
Rovers were indebted to a last ditch tackle from substitute Sean Kavanagh to thwart the dangerous Joe Thomson, before Sean Hoare made a crucial block as McGonigle’s right-footer seemed bound for the corner of the net. Bradley turned to his bench for a spur and Rovers finally found a spark in the final 15 minutes. Maher took no chances with a Graham Burke daisy-cutter that appeared to be heading wide, and from the resultant corner Hoare scooped an effort over the bar.
Minutes later, Rovers struck. Richie Towell fed Andy Lyons in space on the left. The wing-back cut inside Ronan Boyce and found the target with a sweet right-footer, which Maher could only parry.
As the ball fell loose, Mandroiu pounced like a mongoose and whirled away in delight
Derry were stunned but they almost grabbed a late leveller when Dummigan headed on to the top of the crossbar. It was a night of fine margins. SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Gannon (S Kavanagh 55), Lopes, Hoare; Finn (Cotter, 81), Towell, McCann (Watts, 68), Byrne, Lyons; Gaffney (Mandroiu, 68), Burke. Goal: Mandroiu, 79. DERRY CITY: Maher; Boyce, McEleney, Toal, Lafferty; Dummigan, Patching; Smith (McLaughlin, 78), Thomson, B Kavanagh (Akintunde, 67); McGonigle. Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).