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Aaron Greene strikes twice as Shamrock Rovers sink Derry City

Updated / Friday, 19 Apr 2024 23:05

Shamrock Rovers showed their class and clinical finishing to easily see off fellow title contenders Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

A quickfire Aaron Greene brace got them in front just before the hour mark before Richie Towell completed the dominant performance and although City substitute Pat Hoban pulled a goal back late on, the visitors ran out deserved winners.

The defeat, which was Derry's third loss of the campaign, was welcomed by a chorus of boos at the final whistle, as Ruaidhrí Higgins' side again failed to deliver in a top-of-the-table clash.

Although hitting the woodwork in the first half and probably shading things in the opening 45 minutes, Derry were second best for long periods after the break.

The Brandywell men started on the front foot and went close after a few minutes but Michael Duffy's angled drive from the left was parried away by a diving Leon Pohls.

Moments later, Gary O'Neill had a long-range strike, which City netminder Brain Maher gathered easily.

City thought they had taken the lead 12 minutes in as a superb passing move saw Ben Doherty release Daniel Mullen. The striker fired home in off the post, but his celebrations were cut short as the assistant had his flag up for offside.

Rovers missed a golden chance to take the lead on 20 minutes when Greene got in behind the City back-line to latch onto Dylan Watts' pass, but from close range he was denied by Maher and Towell's follow-up shot was blocked on the line by Doherty.

Pohls had to make a top-drawer save on 33 minutes when at full stretch he tipped Duffy's curling 25-yard strike around his left-hand post. Derry were denied by the woodwork on 40 minutes as Mullen's stunning left-footed strike, which had Pohls beaten, came crashing back off the post.

Pohls was called into action again soon after, this time he booted away Ronan Boyce's low drive after the Derry right-back had found space inside the Derry box.

A defensive mistake by Shane McEleney let in Greene moments later but the striker's shot was well-parried around the post by Maher.

The Hoops took the lead on 57 minutes as Greene broke the offside trap before making no mistake, firing home into Maher's bottom left-hand corner, to spark wild celebrations amongst the Rovers substitutes who were warming up just in front of the goalscorer.

Greene netted his second on the night five minutes later, latching onto Dylan Watts' inch-perfect pass before calmly lifting the ball over the outrushing Maher.

Rovers wrapped the points up on 69 minutes as Towell made no mistake from close range, side-footing home past Maher after Graham Burke had laid the chance on a plate for the ex-Dundalk man.

Derry scored a consolation goal on 87 minutes as substitute Daniel Kelly found fellow sub Hoban at the back post and the striker from close range slid the ball home past Pohls.

City's miserable night was summed up deep into stoppage time when a flare was thrown over the wall and into the ground and set fire to the pitch.

Derry City: Brian Maher, Shane McEleney (Daniel Kelly 65), Mark Connolly, Camoner McJannet; Ronan Boyce, Adam O'Reilly, Will Patching, Paul McMullan, Ben Doherty; Michael Duffy (Pat Hoban 65), Danny Mullen.

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pohls, Josh Honohan, Roberto Lopes, Daniel Cleary (Cian Barrett 81); Dylan Watts, Markus Poom, Gary O'Neill (Trevor Clarke 60), Graham Burke (Johnny Kenny 72), Richie Towell, Aaron Greene (Rory Gaffney 72), Daragh Burns (Daragh Nugent 72).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Ardee).

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