Derry City 0 Rovers 1

Rovers rejoice with Purcells late winner....

On a wet evening in Derry the Hoops put in an enormous effort to leave the Brandywell with all three points. Having lost captain Aiden Price to injury in the first half they defied the odds to nick the game in the last 10 minutes with Tadhg Purcell grabbing the all important goal. The game started slowly but Price fell awkwardly in the third minute and took a knock to his ankle. McGill made a good tackle in his own half after 11 minutes and Price cleared in front of his own goal on 16 minutes.

O'Briens cross in the 22nd minute was too high for Amond. An O'Connor corner was then cleared at the second attempt. On 25 minutes a Derry corner fell to an unmarked Delaney but he headed wide. Doherty then saved Amond weak shot from Murphys clearance. Rice shot over the bar having won possession on 29 minutes. The home sides best chance came in the 31st minute when Farren mis-kicked in front of goal. A Leech header lacked power just a minute later.

Price was finally forced out of the action on 35 minutes and Ger O'Brien moved in to partner Pat Flynn in the centre of defence. Mark Leech got on the end of O'Connors header in the box and his shot was parried away by Doherty before Rice shot wide under pressure from the edge of the area.

The second-half was a more lively affair with the home side doing much of the attacking. Murphy took a fine cross on 52 minutes before a fine tackle from Hutton at the other end denied Amond a chance. Barry Murphy then made a fine save from Stewarts shot after 56 minutes. Kevin Deery fired a free-kick just over from 25 yards. Treacy did well to intercept a Stewart through ball and McGinn ended a hectic 15 minutes when he back-heeled a cross into the Hoops side-netting.

Purcell was introduced on 65 minutes and two minutes later Rice set him up for a shot but Doherty saved. Barry Murphy then made a great stop with his feet in front of goal as Farren almost got on the end of a deflected shot. Hutton again was called on to stop Amond but Amond recovered to set up Rice but his shot hit the side-netting. Rice was up and down the pitch and he made a good interception at the edge of his own area after 73 minutes.

Martyn and McGinn combined to almost get behind the Hoops defence but Ger O'Brien done enough to break up the attack. Barry Murphy blocked a shot from a tight angle on 79 minutes and the Hoops forced a corner a minute later but again the delivery was poor. Derry pushed on looking for a winner and Martyn turned Flynn on 82 minutes but blasted the ball over the bar.

The home side were punished a minute later when Amond took control of the ball and played a fine pass into the path of Purcell who took a first touch on his left foot before shooting with his right. Doherty got a hand to the ball but couldn't prevent it from nestling in the corner of the net.

The home side responded in the dying minutes and Delaneys header across goal was hooked away by Treacy. Martyn had another chance in the 88th minute but Madden blocked his effort. Amond and Doyle ran down the clock with some keep ball at the Derry corner flag and the final whistle was met with joy from the Hoops contingent. Stephen Rice was worthy winner of the TG4 man of the match award.