With the title race effectively over, and the runners-up spot guaranteed to end up in Dundalk’s possession, the chase for Europe and fight against relegation are the only issues worth monitoring at this stage of the Premier Division season.
Hence why third versus fourth was billed as the match of the day. If only it lived up the hype. Instead there was a distinct lack of quality in this game, until the 64th minute that is, when Aaron McEneff scored a fine goal to decide the outcome.
“Let no one doubt that the key moment was that opening goal from McEneff
From there on in this was dramatic, tense and ultimately victorious for Derry City.
But let no one doubt that the key moment was that opening goal from McEneff.
Receiving possession from Barry McNamee 30 yards from the Shamrock Rovers goal, McEneff’s path appeared to be blocked by the sizeable number of defenders in front of him.
Advertisement
Imaginatively then he took an alternative route, dipping his shoulder to shape to shoot, before he moved sideways into a little pocket of space, from where he glanced quickly at Tomer Chencinski’s position in the Rovers goal, realising there was a gap to the goalkeeper’s right.
And McEneff found it, striking his 25-yard shot accurately to the corner of the Canadian international’s net, giving Derry a lead that they never surrendered, which results in them going eight points clear of Shamrock Rovers in the Premier Division table. Rovers, notably, have a game in hand on their Ulster rivals.
Still, they will be unhappy to be that far adrift. While Derry deserved the win, and while Rovers showed more attacking intent after going behind, the psychological impact of the goal was still significant.
Their confidence affected, the home side’s defensive shape was nowhere near as solid as it had been up until that McEneff strike.
Indeed they were fortunate not to go two goals down, when Rory Patterson’s six-yard shot was deflected wide.
Advertisement
Then again, they could also count themselves unlucky not to equalise after Brandon Miele’s tidy little pass found its way to Trevor Clarke in the penalty area. Wriggling to find room, Clarke’s subsequent shot only narrowly missed the target.
Undeterred, Stephen Bradley, the Rovers manager, continued to gamble, substituting Luke Byrne, his left back, with seven minutes remaining to go on the attack, introducing Sean Boyd and a 3-4-3 system to see out the closing moments.
Needless to say the game opened up from this point on. Lukas Schubert, the Austrian midfielder, could have settled the argument long before the final whistle had he supplied a simple pass to Patterson, who was unmarked in the area.
“It took 43 minutes for a real chance of note to be recorded
Instead he lost possession at the critical moment. At the other end, Rovers hit the upright, via a scrappy effort from Gary Shaw three minutes from the end, and right through stoppage time they attacked but in so doing, they conceded their second on the counterattack when McNamee scored from just inside the Rovers half, hitting his shot into a vacated goal, after Chencinski had gone forward for a corner kick.
Earlier, a tactical stalemate had prevailed — Rovers’ 4-4-1-1 system nullified by Derry’s 4-2-3-1 alternative. Within these structures, McNamee impressed for the visitors, as did Graham Burke for the hosts, aside from the moment when he picked up a silly booking for diving.
Advertisement
It took 43 minutes for a real chance of note to be recorded, and when it came, Chencinski, the Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper, was nearly embarrassed by McEneff, whose powerfully struck free kick required the Canadian international to scramble frantically across his goalline before he punched it clear.
Little did we know then how different the second half would be in terms of drama and entertainment.
Teams
Premier round-up
Galway claimed a massive 3-1 victory away to Finn Harps last night to move above Sligo Rovers in the Premier Division table. Ronan Murray scored twice after Paddy McCourt was sent off for Harps. The result also means that Harps are now two points clear of the relegation zone as the season begins to draw to a climax.
Dundalk secured a 3-0 win over Limerick — Patrick McEleney, Brian Gartland and Robbie Benson getting the goals. Cork City — courtesy of Stephen Dooley — beat Drogheda 1-0 to remain 17 points clear at the top. Bohemians and Bray drew 0-0.