FAI Ford Cup Semi-Final: Shamrock Rovers V Derry City – The Irish Times – October 6 2014

Pat Fenlon’s side seemed primed to book their place in the Aviva Stadium decider – alongside St Patrick’s Athletic – when Dean Kelly finally broke the deadlock on 78 minutes, but Patterson’s late leveller keeps the hopes of the 2012 champions alive for another day.

The 24-times winners received a massive let-off just two minutes into the contest, when Hoops netminder Barry Murphy produced a magnificent save to deny Derry winger Michael Duffy.

Ample opportunities

Rovers did settle after this initial scare, and with Ronan Finn drifting into a more central position from the right-wing, former Brandywell full-back Simon Madden had ample opportunities to create overlaps inside the Derry half.

Yet, although the hosts enjoyed the majority of possession during the first-quarter, it was Murphy who continued to be the busier of the two shotstoppers.

Murphy needed to be on his toes to gather a dangerous 25-yard free-kick from Patrick McEleney, before visiting goalkeeper Gerard Doherty was finally force into action from Karl Sheppard’s close-range header.

Upon the resumption, a re-energised Rovers kept City on the back-foot for an extended period of time, and midfielder Ryan Brennan’s fierce long-distance drive floated just past the target eight minutes into the half.

By the hour mark, Dean Jarvis, Patterson and centre-half Ryan McBride had all found their way into Neil Doyle’s notebook, but even though this made things edgy for Derry, the possibility of a replay was beginning to loom large.

Fresh impetus

The arrival of Dean Kelly into the fray added fresh impetus to the Rovers play, however, and 12 minutes from time, the 29-year-old striker finally produced some daylight between the teams.

For the umpteenth time in the game, Madden was picked out in space on the right-flank, and after the subsequent cross was deflected into his path, Kelly fired home via the outstretched fingertips of Doherty.

With momentum on their side, a Rovers victory seemed inevitable, but Derry and Patterson had other ideas.

Duffy’s corner was enticingly delivered into the area, where the dependable centre-forward was on hand to nod beyond the reach of Murphy.

With their tails now up, Derry almost secured a sensational triumph at the very end of normal time, only for the fantastic Murphy to once again thwart Duffy in spectacular fashion, and force a return date in the Brandywell on Tuesday night.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, McGuinness, Kenna, D O’Connor; Cregg, McPhail, Brennan (Waters, 75); Finn, Sheppard (Kelly, 63), S O’Connor (McCabe, 85).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Molloy, Barry, McBride, Jarvis; Dooley (Timlin, 75), Lowry, McNamee, Duffy; P McEleney; Patterson.

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).