Rovers 1 Derry City 1

************* Eircom League *************
Shamrock Rovers 1
Myler 60'

Derry City 1
Morrow 50'
Tolka Park - Saturday 4th Aug 2007

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This was a hard physical encounter played on a greasy pitch that was saturated when the heavens opened a couple of hours before kick-off. However it was an entertaining affair especially in the second period that saw two goals and a straight red card for Derrys Sean Hargan.

Tadhg Purcell found himself in space early on but fluffed his cross into the box however a great one-two between Pender and Cassidy saw Pender burst into the box but his shot hit the side-netting. Barry Murphy made a decent save in the 9th minute from a free-kick after McCourt was fouled. The lively Eric McGill then fired a great shot from 25 yards that Jennings pushed away in the 15th minute. The resultant corner saw McGill retrieve the ball and his cross was met by Ferguson but Jennings just got his hand to the ball to deny the Hoops central defender. The Hoops continued the pressure and Penders cross saw Purcell head the ball against the butt of the post with Jennings beaten.

It took another 15 minutes for Purcell to fire over the bar from Fergusons delivery and Mylers free-kick six minutes later was well defended. However from the following corner the ball fell to Myler at the back post but his header was cleared off the line. The next corner was met by Danny O'Connor but again a Derry defender was on hand to clear off the line.

Derrys best chance came in the 40th minute when McCourt found space in the box but fired just over the bar. The ex-Hoop was well marshalled for most of the opening period as the home side were well aware of his capabilities.

Five minutes into the second period the Hoops were punished when a long ball over the top was met by Sam Morrow and he eluded the Hoops defence to run into the box and fire past Murphy. It was a good finish from the Derry man but the Hoops were guilty of poor defending.

Rovers responded well but there followed a number of crunching tackles from both sides that saw bookings before Hargans lunge on Ger Rowe saw Ref. Alan Kelly reach for the red card on 59 minutes. Worse was to follow for the Foylesiders when Pender retrieved the ball after Jennings made a fine stop from Purcell and sent in a cross for Myler to head home the equaliser. The goal was met by great relief from the home crowd as finally the visitors defence was breached.

Derry were forced to change to a 4-4-1 formation but a dangerous free-kick went straight through to Murphy in the 68th minute. On 70 minutes the Hoops should have taken the lead. A Cassidy free-kick was met by Danny O'Connor on the edge of the box and his header brought a fine one-handed save from Jennings but Purcell followed up to balloon the ball over the bar from close range.

Morrow almost met a dangerous cross in the 79th minute as the visitors looked dangerous on the break. O'Briens cross in the 82nd minute was bravely punched away by Jennings under pressure from Purcell. Six minutes from time a Dave Cassidy shot was heading for the corner but Jennings got a hand on the ball and Myler could only send the ball back across goal from a tight angle.

There was more drama to come as an inswinging free-kick from the visitors evaded everyone and went narrowly wide of Murphys post. Ger Rowe then went on a fine run and got behind the Derry defence and the ball fell to Myler who fired the ball just wide on 88 minutes. There was still time for two Rovers corners in the three minutes added on but the Hoops couldn't force a winner and Jennings catch from a corner was met by the Referees whistle for full-time.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O’Brien
3 Derek Pender
4 Dave McGill
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Danny O’Connor
7 David Cassidy
8 Eric McGill
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Andy Myler
11 Ger Rowe


Substitutes :

13 Dean Lawrence
14 Padraig Amond for Purcell 85'
15 Alan Reynolds
16
17 Robbie Clarke