SOCCER LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Derry City 0 Shamrock Rovers 1:SHAMROCK Rovers made a significant statement at the Brandywell last night, Michael O'Neill's side consolidating their lead on the summit of the Premier Division with this victory.

The men from Tallaght netted the game’s only goal before half an hour had elapsed and, from that point, produced a thoroughly professional performance to keep a toothless Derry attack at bay.

Derry, to be fair, may have bossed the ball throughout the second half but with just one of their four recognised strikers fit, Stephen Kenny’s side were always up against it.

Rovers started at a high tempo and dominated the issue during the early stages.

And they created a superb chance to break the deadlock after just six minutes but Padraig Amond lashed his shot against the upright having got in behind the Derry defence.

But Derry hit back two minutes later following a break on the right, Gareth McGlynn drilled a low ball to the edge of the danger area but David Scullion’s snap shot sailed over the crossbar.

Rovers skipper, Shane Robinson, received a booking following an over robust tackle on Kevin Deery, a challenge which was to force the Derry midfielder out of the action in the 26th minute.

The league leaders broke the deadlock in the 27th minute and the goal was not without its controversy.

Stephen Bradley crossed from the right and while Dessie Baker appeared to be in an offside position – with the referee’s assistant having raised his flag and taken it down again – the ball was picked up by Amond who played Baker in to score.

The goal clearly sparked the home side into action, with Rovers forced onto the backfoot with Derry beginning to force the issue.

Three minutes after the break the home side was presented with a glorious opportunity to equalise.

Substitute Ciaran Martyn was brought down on the edge of the area by Pat Flynn and when Gareth McGlynn floated over the free, Tam McManus’s downward header was parried by goalkeeper, Alan Manus before Steven Gray hammered the rebound high over the crossbar.

With Derry enjoying the lion’s share of possession, efforts from Ruaidhri Higgins and Liam Kearney were comfortably dealt with by Manus.

In the 55th minute the attendance screamed for a penalty when Pat Flynn appeared to block a Kearney shot with his arm but referee, Declan Hanney, dismissed those claims.

Clive Delaney flashed a shot agonisingly wide of the upright on the hour as Derry continued to press forward in search of an equaliser.

And Derry had another call for hand ball inside the area one minute later but again the referee’s assistant refused to agree.

Paddy Kavanagh was called ashore at the expense of Amond as Rovers’ boss, Michael O’Neill, attempt to stem the flow of possession.

James McClean floated the ball into the penalty area from the left but McManus failed to keep his header down

Derry huffed and puffed to the end but failed to make any inroads in what was a solid and resolute defence.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion. Delaney, Gray, McClean (Harkin, 83); McGlynn, Higgins, Deery (Martyn, 26), Kearney (Nash, 72); Scullion, McManus.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Manus; Flynn, Sives, A. Price, Cahill; Bradley (Chisholm, 75), S. Rice, Robinson, O'Connor; Baker (Cowan, 79), Amond (Kavanagh, 57).

Referee: Declan Hanney(Dublin).