Finn's strike eases pressure on boss Kenny

Derry C 0 Shamrock Rovers 1:STEPHEN KENNY breathed a sigh of relief at the Brandywell last night, the Rovers boss having led his side back into the title race with a narrow but deserved win over his former club.

The Tallaght side now lie seven points adrift of Sligo Rovers and, of course, remain in the FAI and EA Sports Cups and many will feel that last night’s win could well signal a return to form for the Hoops.

Rovers dominated the scoring chances throughout the first half having bossed the ball and striker Gary Twigg really should have put his side in front in the 22nd minute.

A wayward pass by full back, Stephen McCaffrey was intercepted by the Scot, but with just the goalkeeper to beat, Twigg directed his shot wide of the target.

Derry’s injury jinx then struck again with the loss of right winger, Patrick McEleney, who had to be stretchered off having sustained a twisted knee in the 33rd minute.

Delighted not to have conceded before the break, Derry created their best scoring chance three minutes into the second half.

Ruaidhrí Higgins gained possession on the edge of the 18-yard line and his curling shot saw Rovers goalkeeper Oscar Jansson produce a superb save, touching the ball over his crossbar.

However, the visitors took the wind out of the Derry sails in the 54th minute when breaking the deadlock. The hard-working Ronan Finn was allowed time and space to work his way forward and his right foot shot crashed off the underside of the crossbar before finding the net.

Derry pushed forward and Ryan McBride could have piled the pressure back on Kenny in the 93rd minute when he met Dermot McCaffrey’s corner, but the ball flew agonisingly wide of the upright. At the end of the game, Rovers centre half Colin Hawkins had to be ferried to hospital with a suspected collapsed lung.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, McBride, S McEleney, McCaffrey; P McEleney (McNamee, 33 mins, McCallion, 90 mins), Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; Morrison (Farren, 72 mins), McDaid.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson; Sullivan, Sives, Hawkins, Powell; Turner, Finn, Rice, McCabe (McCormack, 75 mins); Kavanagh (Brennan, 59 mins), Twigg (Kilduff, 78 mins).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).