Shamrock Rovers

ON a night when they gratefully took the league trophy back into their grasp, Shamrock Rovers showed Derry City that if the Brandywell club are indeed going ...

That goal added to the home side’s confidence, with Richie Towell and Lyons going close. And in fairness to City they made it clear they would not lie down. It surely grated for Derry to have their players form a guard of honour for the champions as they walked out on to the pitch to start the game, and Ruaidhrí Higgins would have demanded that the admiration for Rovers ended there.

Shamrock Rovers 1 Derry City 0 Derry City's 20-game unbeaten run came to an end as they were beaten by Shamrock Rovers. A first half goal from Rory...

There was almost a half hour played before either team had a real chance to talk about and it came as a huge error from Sean Hoare. Higgins made four substitutions in a bid to lift his tiring team in the second half but it was Rovers who looked more likely to score with Maher having to save from substitute Graham Burke in the final 10 minutes. City could have had a goal early on when Patrick McEleney picked out the run of Michael Duffy, but the winger completely missed the ball as he attempted to volley it and the chance was gone.

Shamrock Rovers got to enjoy their trophy presentation in style on Sunday after dispatching Derry City with a 1-0 victory.

Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers see off Derry City 1-0 before his son Josh helps them raise the Premier Division trophy, and the roof, in Tallaght.

Rovers never lost control while Derry failed to up the tempo. Things might have veered a different direction had Duffy not lost his balance after just two minutes. If the Candystripes are to achieve their stated aim of bringing the title back to Foyleside for the first time since 1997, it is Rovers they’ll have to overthrow. As promised by Candystripes manager Ruaidhrí Higgins, the visitors were gracious in their league defeat by forming a guard of honour for the undisputed champions. It wasn’t just a night that illustrating the clinical edge of the domestic domineers, for Josh Bradley – the manager’s eight-year-old son recently diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia – was the special guest on the pitch at the end to lift the trophy. With a hat-trick of titles already wrapped up by the Hoops, this was supposed to be an opportunity for Derry City to lay out their stall at Tallaght Stadium for next year’s charge but Rory Gaffney’s 38th-minute goal – lifting his league haul into double-figures – highlighted the chasm which still exists between the league’s top two.

RORY GAFFNEY was the match-winner - but eight-year-old Josh Bradley was the star as Shamrock Rovers lifted the League of Ireland title for a record 20th ...

McGonigle was off target again shortly after the break. Not that he had much to do last night. But time and again this season he produced age-defying performances. He would love to have signed off with a goal, but the closest he came to that was moments before the break when he came in off the left flank to meet Gaffney’s cross-field pass. So as the Hoops toasted their third league title in a row, it was fitting to see the brave youngster front and centre of the celebrations. RORY GAFFNEY was the match-winner - but eight-year-old Josh Bradley was the star as Shamrock Rovers lifted the League of Ireland title for a record 20th time.

Derry City will look to FAI Cup final against Shelbourne to secure some silverware of their own this season.

It rounds out the best small ground in the region, the ideal venue to host nearby clubs seeking to follow Rovers into the lucrative group stages of European football this decade. Finishing second in the league without Michael Duffy for most of the campaign, after losing only five matches and drawing 12, shows scope for instant improvement in 2023. “On nights like this where else in Ireland would you want to be playing your football?” Only Shelbourne and Damien Duff’s ability to manifest success stands in their way at the Aviva Stadium on November 13th. In the end, Rovers’ eighth Premier Division title and third on the bounce, draws them level with Dundalk, who are a modern cautionary tale. What to wear, hoops, candystripes or the Halloween costume?

Ruaidhri Higgins had hoped the title race would still be in the balance going into this penultimate league clash but draws against back to back Shelbourne and ...

And Byrne made an instant impact with a lovely pass from deep to set Burke through on goal. The striker's first attempt was blocked by Shane McEleney at full stretch but the rebound fell fortunately to Gaffney who made no mistake with his second attempt. The striker's shot towards the far post was turned behind by the outstretched hand of Alan Mannus as Hoare breathed a sigh of relief. The Rovers hitman forced a fine save from Maher and when Lyons picked up possession, he was barged in the back by Dummigan on the edge of the area but Rovers failed to capitalise on the resultant free-kick. Maher denied Towell's ferocious shot from the edge of the box with a smart save as Rovers tried to turn the screw but Derry managed to go into the break with just the single goal separating the teams. Rovers began to dominate the ball and when Richie Towell sent a dangerous inswinging ball towards the Derry six yard box it sailed just beyond the head of Gaffney.

Derry certainly had their chances with Jamie McGonigle and Michael Duffy going close in the first half but they looked jaded and now need a point in their final ...

And Byrne made an instant impact with a lovely pass from deep to set Burke through on goal. The striker's first attempt was blocked by Shane McEleney at full stretch but the rebound fell fortunately to Gaffney who made no mistake with his second attempt. The striker's shot towards the far post was turned behind by the outstretched hand of Alan Mannus as Hoare breathed a sigh of relief. “There was nothing riding on it, they had the league won. There was a lack of edge, particularly in the first half. "I don’t think there was much of an edge in it,” said Higgins.