LATE STRIKE FORCES REPLAY
SHAM RVS 1
DERRY C 1
By DAIRE WALSH
RORY PATTERSON rescued Derry City at Tallaght Stadium yesterday, as his 87th-minute goal denied Shamrock Rovers a place in the FAI Ford Cup Final.
Pat Fenlon’s side seemed primed to book their place in the Aviva Stadium decider against 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.
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. 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. The sides will do it all again in the Brandywell tomorrow night.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; Madden, McGuinness, Kenna, D O’Connor; Cregg, McPhail, Brennan (Waters 75); Finn, Sheppard (Kelly 63), S O’Connor (McCabe 85).
Scorer: Kelly 78.
Yellow cards: McGuinness 55.
DERRY CITY: Doherty; Molloy, Barry, McBride, Jarvis; Dooley (Timlin 75), Lowry, McNamee, Duffy; P McEleney; Patterson.
Scorer: Patterson 87.
Yellow cards: Jarvis 42, Patterson 49, McBride 61, Barry 75.
Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).