A late, late equaliser denied Derry City victory in their opening SSE Airtricity Premier Division game of the season against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin this evening.
Mark Stewart…. opened scoring.
City looked to be on their way to a deserved win when four minutes into six minutes of injury time, the visiting defence – for the only time in the game – failed to clear their lines and allowed Kilduff to head home from six yards.
Collins, taking charge of City for the first time in the league, sprung a surprise when he announced his team would not contain Rory Patterson, the Dubliner naming last season’s leading goalscorer on the substitutes’ bench.
Rovers boss Trevor Croly also raised a few eyebrows by not including Republic of Ireland international Stephen McPhail in his starting line-up.
The first half was disappointing with the only incidents of note being a 20 yard Curran effort which went narrowly wide, an excellent clearance from the edge of the six yard box by Byrne and a harsh yellow card issued to Rovers’ Robert Bayly for a foul on Ventre.
The second period proved a little bit more entertaining thanks to the early goal which was more down to luck than skill.
Mark Stewart, one of Collins’ 10 pre-season signings, looked on as his long range cross, aided by the breeze, had Rovers keeper Murphy flapping as the ball went in just under the crossbar in the 48th minute.
Keeper Doherty came to Derry’s rescue four minutes later when he reacted quickly to get his foot to a low 12 yard shot from Brennan after the Rovers’ player pounced on a mistake by Shane McEleney.
With Rovers having to push forward in search of an equaliser, Collins went for a more attacking option bringing on creative midfielder Patrick McEleney and Patterson in the 54th minute for Shane McEleney and Curran respectively.
As Derry were still getting used to their new shape, keeper Doherty did well again when he pushed away a 25 yard shot from McCabe.
McEleney then set up Patterson whose 20 yard effort was saved comfortably by Murphy.
Murphy was alert when he rushed from his goal to use his feet to clear after Patterson bore down on goal in the 87th minute.
A minute later, Rovers substitute McPhail fired wide when in a good position 20 yards out.
Patterson had a chance to wrap the points up when he shot at keeper Murphy when he found himself clear on the edge of the penalty box in the first minute of six minutes of “Fergie time.”
The heartbreaking equaliser came three mintues later when Kilduff rose to loop his header to the back of the net from six yards.
Derry City: Doherty, Collins, Byrne, McBride, Barry, Stewart, Ventre, S McEleney (P McEleney 55), Molloy, Duffy (R Curran 89), E Curran (Patterson 55). Unused substitutes: Lynch, Jarvis, Foy, Elebert.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
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