Shamrock Rovers suffered their first home defeat in the league since May 2021 as their characteristically slow start to the season continued with a 2-1 loss to Derry City in an absorbing contest.
It all seemed so unlikely early on, with the champions, on home turf for the first time in 2023 in front of a 7,626 strong crowd, appearing to have shrugged off their early season ennui.
With Neil Farrugia and Trevor Clarke raiding continually down either flank, the home side largely dominated the opening '45.
The first clear shot at goal fell to Dylan Watts after fine work by the Farrugia down the right flank. The ball pinballed around the edge of the box before falling to Watts, who fired a shot on the swivel, dragging it harmlessly wide.
As it happened: Friday's Premier Division action
While exuberant in attack, the hosts were badly hobbled by the absence of their three starting centre-halves, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace and Dan Cleary all seeing red in the opening two weekends.
On 18 minutes, having been more or less crouched in their own final third until then, Derry hit the front. It began with a Jack Byrne corner. A skied headed clearance at the near post was helped on by Irish U21 international Ollie O'Neill as far as Will Patching.
The midfielder coolly controlled on his chest and volleyed a pass through the gap in the Rovers centre-halves, perfectly angled for Ben Doherty to race onto.
Steaming onto possession on halfway, Doherty still had plenty of work left, outpacing Clarke on his tail, scampering into the box and coolly slotting the ball past Mannus into the far corner.
The lead was only to last nine minutes.
Sadou Diallo was stripped of possession by Gary O'Neill, who burst forward. The makeshift centre half was shunted to the deck, the visiting players hesitating momentarily in anticipation of a free-kick.
The hosts capitalised on the uncertainty, Markus Poom slipping a pass to Kenny who peeled away from his marker. From a tight-ish angle, the young centre forward put his faith in power, ramming a shot to the roof of the net, his first goal for the club.
Derry reacted well to the concession, the wily and physical McGonigle linking up with Patching almost sending the midfielder through on goal, Gannon snuffing out the danger.
Diallo, eager to make amends for his part in the Hoops goal, floated a delightful pass for Graydon, loitering at the far post. The wide player controlled the ball but his side-foot shot was wide of the near post.
However, the normal pattern of the game wasn't long in re-asserting itself. The rangy Farrugia, rampant throughout, tore down the right flank, cut the ball back for Burke, who deftly helped it on for the unmarked Byrne, poised to ping a shot on the edge of the box. The midfielder got his legs tied together, clipping the ball with his standing foot and the chance was gone.
No matter, an even better opportunity arrived moments later, Farrugia cutting across field, slipping a pass to his partner in crime on the opposite flank, Clarke, who drilled a low shot which was well stopped by Maher.
The ball rebounded up for Burke, who controlled it and swung a leg. The shot appeared destined for the far corner but was pushed away by Maher.
Derry, who began last season like a train before a mid-season slump undermined their title challenge, were floundering in midfield in particular, with Byrne and Burke dropping deep, sucking in the full-backs enabling the wing-backs to exploit the space on the flanks.
Just before the break, there were close shaves at either end. McGonigle, giving warning of their continued threat, spun around his marker and flashed a snap shot past the far post. Clarke, who seemed to spend the opening '45 zipping daisy cutters towards the far corner, was then found in space on the left, slipping another effort just wide of the post.
The hosts headed for the dressing room no doubt bemused at the failure to capitalise on their clear superiority.
The second half began with another heart-stopping moment for the visitors, Connolly sidled a fairly skittery back pass to Maher, who was dispossessed by the hard-pressing Kenny on the edge of the box. Fortunately for the visitors, the striker was unable to chase the loose ball down and it bounded out of play.
Derry had barely stirred in the second half before abruptly taking the lead again on 54 minutes. Graydon got to the end-line, cutting back for McGonigle who expertly swept the ball into the far left corner.
Rovers strained to get back in the game, Farrugia getting sight of goal after cutting in from the end-line but skying the shot.
However, the visitors were now growing in confidence. Ollie O'Neill blazed over from the edge of the box. On 66 minutes, Patrick McEleney, collecting a pass from his brother Shane, unfurled a vicious shot from distance which Mannus had to save smartly at the near post.
Yellow cards were flowing freely now, Diallo, Connolly and Byrne going in the book in short order.
Seeking to rescue a result, Bradley tossed on Rory Gaffney, presented with his 2022 Player of the season award before kick-off, and Simon Power, withdrawing Kenny and Burke.
Power had an immediate impact, cutting in from the left, centering for the arriving Clarke, Derry hustling it clear but only as far as the imposing Markus Poom on the edge of the box. The midfielder pinged a low shot for the far corner but McEleney was there to deflect it over.
Gaffney became the fifth player to go in the book following a 'coming together' with Coll, the Derry defender crouched on the deck for a while afterwards.
The hosts huffed and puffed but their play became more frantic. As the clock ticked into injury-time, Gaffney snapped a shot away from a right side of the penalty area, just flashing over the crossbar.
It was the final real chance as the visitors safely saw it out from there, the away supporters bouncing up and down in jubilation afterwards as they waited for the despondent home crowd to file out.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Trevor Clarke, Sean Gannon, Sean Kavanagh (Sean Hoare 80), Gary O'Neill, Neil Farrugia, Markus Poom, Dylan Watts (Liam Burt 80), Jack Byrne, Graham Burke (Simon Power 74), Johnny Kenny (Rory Gaffney 74).
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ciaran Coll, Mark Connolly, Shane McEleney, Ben Doherty, Sadou Diallo (Jordan McEneff, 78), Will Patching, Patrick McEleney, Ryan Graydon (Cian Kavanagh 86), Ollie O'Neill (Brandon Kavanagh 80), Jamie McGonigle (Ronan Boyce 80).
Referee: Neil Doyle.
