Derry City left it late to break down a spirited Sligo Rovers, as Josh Thomas scored in the 90th minute to secure a 2-1 win at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on the opening night of the season.
It looked as though an upset was on the cards after Sligo Rovers took the lead in the first half through Jad Hakiki, but goals within the final ten minutes from Alex Bannon and Thomas secured the points for Derry.
Derry named a strong team to start, unchanged from the President's Cup victory against Shamrock Rovers, while Sligo Rovers handed competitive debuts to Alex Nolan and Jeannot Esua, with academy graduate Daire Patton starting in midfield.
There has not been much to separate these sides over the last three seasons – four wins apiece, as well as four draws, within the last 12 league meetings.
But it was advantage Sligo Rovers on the half hour.
A deep cross from Bit O’Red captain Will Fitzgerald from the left found Nolan at the back post. A calm layoff from the winger went back to Esua, who clipped the ball into the middle for Hakiki to poke home as the Derry defence stood watching.
The response from the home side was almost immediate, the ever-impressive Thomas getting the final touch on the goal line, but the ball looped up and on to the roof of the net.
Nolan then had a shot as Rovers broke on the counter, but his shot was straight at Brian Maher.
Derry’s best chance came with the last kick of the first half. Brandon Fleming skipped past Esua to fire a low ball across the box, and the sliding James Clarke will still be wondering how he didn’t score as Derry went in trailing at the break.
After a delay to the second half kick-off due to some crowd trouble, the Candystripes piled on the pressure from the off, but were denied by two superb saves by Sam Sargeant.
The first denied Thomas in a one-on-one from close range, before Derry worked the ball back out to Carl Winchester on the edge of the box. His powerful effort looked destined for the top corner, only for Sargeant to tip it on to the bar and out.
It was looking like it would take something special to beat Sargeant, and after long spells of sustained Derry pressure, that came on 83 minutes.
Bannon broke in from the left hand-side and bent a shot into the top left corner to send Derry pressing for the winner.
Sligo Rovers’ hearts were broken as the clock hit 90 minutes, with Thomas breaking away to curl a left-footed finish to take all three points.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Alex Bannon, Patrick McClean, Rob Slevin, Brandon Fleming; Darragh Markey (Adam O’Reilly, 59’), Carl Winchester, James McClean, Michael Duffy (C); James Clarke, Josh Thomas.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Jeannot Esua, Ollie Denham, Gareth McElroy, Will Fitzgerald (C); Seb Quirk, Daire Patton (Ciaron Harkin, 80’); Alex Nolan, Jad Hakiki (Kyle McDonagh, 80’), Ryan O’Kane (Sean Stewart, 66’); Cian Kavanagh (Archie Meekison, 59’).
Referee: Neil Doyle
