Shamrock Rovers Successfully Equalized the Position Against Derry City


Aaron Greene scored an 83rd-minute equalizer to deny Derry City a win over Irish Premier League leaders Shamrock Rovers. Liam Boyce opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a header from James McClean's cross at Tallaght Stadium. However, Greene managed to score inside the final ten minutes to ensure Derry left Dublin with an 11th draw in 23 league games. Tiernan Lynch's side are now sixth in the table with just one win in their last ten games, while Rovers are six points clear of St Patrick's Athletic, who have two games less than the title holders. The Candystripes are 18 points behind Rovers at the top of the standings. "Honestly, if you offered me a point here tonight, especially with where we're at, I'd probably be more than happy to take that offer," Lynch said after the game. "I couldn't be more proud of them because I actually came in after the game and they were disappointed that they couldn't hold on to the lead and get the three points. Tonight was obviously a tough time, but I thought we had some really good opportunities to increase our lead, but I couldn't be prouder of the players." After Boyce's goal, the home side appealed for a penalty when Dylan Watts went down in the area following a challenge from McClean, and goalkeeper Eddie Beach denied teenager Michael Noonan after a mistake from Patrick McClean. In the second half, Michael Duffy squandered a chance to double Derry's lead when Ed McGinty saved his chip, and the visitors were punished when Greene drove into the area and scored seven minutes from the end of normal time. Having had a recent home game at Celtic Park, home of Derry's Gaelic games, the Candystripes will return to the new Brandywell with hybrid grass on Friday against Drogheda United.