
Late Aaron McEneff goal nabs Shamrock Rovers win away to Derry
Derry man Aaron McEneff came back to haunt his hometown club with a last gasp winning goal which sent
Shamrock Rovers
six points clear at the top.
Substitutions on both sides influenced this cat and mouse encounter on Foyleside but it was Michael Noonan and McEneff who earned three vital points for the Hoops in the end.
Derry
haven't won against Rovers in the
league
in nine attempts but sub Danny Mullen's fifth goal of the season on 66 minutes put them firmly in the driving seat.
That lead lasted less than six minutes as Noonan headed in from close range after Roberto Lopes' long range strike was turned on to the crossbar by Brian Maher.
READ MORE
Derry reacted well to that setback but it was a former hero turned villain at Brandywell, McEneff who had the last laugh with a 89th minute winner.
Fellow sub, Danny Mandroiu threaded a pass through to Noonan who picked out McEneff's run towards the near post and he made no mistake.
The midfielder was cautioned for his overzealous celebrations in front of the home support in the Southend Park stand to silence a record 5,000-plus attendance.
That goal ensured a fifth consecutive win for Rovers and a seventh game unbeaten as the Dubliners ominously started shifting through the gears.
Shamrock Rovers' Aaron Greene and Derry's Gavin Whyte. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
Derry started with promise and Michael Duffy was gifted possession inside the Rovers penalty area when Dan Cleary's attempted clearance fell kindly to the winger but his curling effort sailed harmlessly wide of the far post.
Referee Marc Lynch was generous with his bookings and issued three contentious yellow cards inside eight first-half minutes to Boyce and Winchester and Rovers' defender O'Sullivan, who was replaced by Josh Honohan after just 18 minutes as
Stephen Bradley
wasted no time in turning to his bench.
Derry carved open the Rovers defence with a neat pass into the feet of Whyte just inside the penalty area on 25 minutes and the ex-Portsmouth man glided past his man before picking out Boyce eight yards from goal. The striker's first time strike was deflected behind by Adam Matthews who recovered well.
From the corner the ball eventually came to Ferguson in space at the back post but the full-back fired his effort wide of the target.
Rovers' first shot on target arrived on 33 minutes after Ferguson's pass was intercepted inside his own half. Aaron Greene crossed low towards Graham Burke but his powerful strike was saved comfortably by Brian Maher.
Rovers were bossing the ball at the start of the second half but it was Derry who broke the deadlock in devastating fashion on 66 minutes.
Winchester won the ball from Byrne before finding McMullan on the right flank. The winger played a delicious pass to send his fellow Scot Mullen into space and the former Patrick Thistle striker finished expertly past Ed McGinty.
Rovers' Josh Honohan and Derry's Shane Ferguson. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho
That lead lasted less than six minutes as Roberto Lopes' ferocious strike from distance was turned on to the bar by Maher but substitute Noonan reacted to the rebound quickest and headed into the net from close range.
McMullan and Mullen combined brilliantly again on 75 minutes but the latter couldn't get enough lift on the ball to guide it over the head of McGinty who snuffed out the danger.
Matthews made an important block to deny Duffy's close range strike with nine minutes remaining as Derry went in search of a winner.
Rovers issued a killer blow in the final minute when Mandroiu split the defence with a searching pass into Noonan who picked out the run of McEneff and the Derry man made no mistake with a clinical finish.
Four minutes of stoppage time was signalled but Derry couldn't find an equaliser as their four match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end.
Elsewhere Drogheda United earned a 1-0 win over Bohemians at Weavers Park to climb above Derry into second spot.
St Pat's were held 2-2 in Inchicore by Waterford, Galway left it late to earn a 2-1 win against Cork while Shelbourne came from behind against Sligo Rovers to return to winning ways.
DERRY CITY:
Maher; Ferguson (Doherty 77 mins), Connolly, Holt, Cann, Todd; Whyte (McMullan 60), O'Reilly (Benson 84), Winchester, Duffy (Hoban 84); Boyce (Mullen 60).
SHAMROCK ROVERS:
McGinty; Matthews, Lopes, Cleary, Grant, O'Sullivan (Honohan 18 mins), Byrne (McEneff 77), Nugent (Mandroiu), Burke (Watts 64), Greene (Noonan 64).
Referee:
Marc Lynch.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
28 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Ireland rally to down Scotland as Scott Bemand hails calm comeback after World Cup warm-up
SCOTT BEMAND was pleased Ireland kept calm to win their first World Cup warm-up match. Scotland led 14-0 in Cork but Sadhbh McGrath and Meabh Deely hit back to 2 Ireland came from behind to see off Scotland in their World Cup warm up clash in Cork 2 Head coach Scott Bemand hailed his side's resolve after the victory The hosts — who start the World Cup against Japan on August 24 — completed the turnaround within six minutes of the restart when Nancy McGillivray dived over. Centre Emma Orr briefly put Scotland back in front before replacement prop Niamh O'Dowd gave Ireland a 22-21 lead by barging over at the other end. Ireland sealed the victory three minutes from time when Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird crossed. And read more on rugby IRELAND 27-21 SCOTLAND SCORERS — Ireland: Tries, McGrath, Deely, McGillivray, O'Dowd, Nic A Bhaird; cons, O'Brien. Scotland: Tries, Thomson, Scott, Orr; cons, Thomson 3. Australia and Lions rugby stars are forced off the pitch mid-game due to threat of lightning

The Journal
31 minutes ago
- The Journal
Ireland secure 5-try victory over Scotland
The 42 Ireland 27 Scotland 21 Stephen Barry reports from Virgin Media Park IF IRELAND showed some pre-World Cup rust, they soon shook it off to overturn a 14-point deficit in a five-try victory over Scotland in Cork. First international tries from props Sadhbh McGrath and Niamh O'Dowd, plus Exeter Chiefs debutant Nancy McGillivray, were highlight moments from the six-point success. After the double sickener of losing back-rowers Erin King and Dorothy Wall for the World Cup, the form of Grace Moore to pocket player-of-the-match honours was most welcome. Head coach Scott Bemand was also boosted by some returning stars. Captain Sam Monaghan got her first run out in 13 months after an ACL layoff, while Béibhinn Parsons completed her comeback from consecutive leg breaks. For both players, it was their first cap since beating Scotland in April 2024. With gaps to fill in the pack, Bemand handed debuts to Connacht flankers Ivana Kiripati, from the start, and Ailish Quinn, off the bench. A series of handling and disciplinary errors meant the opening part of the contest was spent camped in their half. Vice-captain Amee-Leigh Costigan came up with a tryline penalty to deny the Scots, but the visitors returned for their breakthrough after 15 minutes. From an Irish line-out, Kiripati knocked on and Lisa Thomson pounced for the touchdown, despite Monaghan's best efforts. The Trailfinders centre converted her try. Scotland were hit and miss on their line-outs, but Ireland kept giving them opportunities to reload. Within six minutes, Scotland unleashed a set-piece power play as Lucia Scott sliced through untouched to score. Thomson's conversion made it 14-0. A serious injury to Lana Skeldon seemed to take the wind out of their sails. Ireland were given a second and third chance to launch close-range attacks as Dannah O'Brien's final pass to Parsons didn't go to hand. They eventually made it count as 20-year-old Buncrana-born prop McGrath barged over for her first international try. O'Brien's conversion hit the post. It was two tries in four minutes when Moore's break led to a quick-passing move, sparked by Brittany Hogan. Eve Higgins drew the last defender for Méabh Deely to race home. O'Brien nailed the touchline conversion as they trailed 14-12 at half-time. It took six second-half minutes before Ireland grabbed their first lead. Kiripati was initially held up over the line, but once Scotland kicked the restart out on the full, Ireland were presented with a five-metre line-out. They pressed onto the tryline before O'Brien pulled the ball back to release McGillivray for a memorable debut try. The lead remained at three as O'Brien missed the conversion. Advertisement Scottish discipline continued to erode. A deliberate knock-on saw winger Coreen Grant sin-binned as they coughed up 11 consecutive penalties on either side of half-time. Out of nothing, Scotland got back ahead in their last play with 14 players. Poor defending allowed Emma Orr to sprint through a gap to score. Thomson's kick made it 21-17. But Ireland dug deep to edge ahead after 67 minutes. O'Dowd ripped possession out of Scottish hands before the Wexford native found herself at the end of the move to dive over. Enya Breen's conversion came up short. They earned a late cushion when Deirbhile Nic a Bháird dashed over from an advancing line-out maul. Breen became the second home kicker to strike the post, but their lead was never threatened. Ireland face Canada in Belfast next Saturday ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan in Northampton. Ireland scorers: Tries: Sadhbh McGrath, Méabh Deely, Nancy McGillivray, Niamh O'Dowd, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird. Conversions: Dannah O'Brien [1 from 3], Enya Breen [0 from 2]. Scotland scorers: Tries: Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr. Conversions: Lisa Thomson [3/3]. IRELAND: Méabh Deely; Béibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien (Enya Breen 59), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Emily Lane 59); Siobhán McCarthy (Niamh O'Dowd 49), Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Neve Jones 68), Sadhbh McGrath (Linda Djougang 49); Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (capt) (Fiona Tuite 34); Grace Moore (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 2-13), Ivana Kiripati (Ailish Quinn 68), Brittany Hogan (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 59). SCOTLAND: Chloe Rollie; Coreen Grant (yellow card 51), Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott; Hannah Ramsay (Beth Blacklock 56), Caity Mattinson (Leia Brebner-Holden 51) (Evie Wills 70, HIA); Anne Young (Leah Bartlett 40), Lana Skeldon (Elis Martin 31), Elliann Clarke (Molly Poolman 54); Emma Wassell (Adelle Ferrie 64), Rachel Malcolm (capt) (Eva Donaldson 64); Rachel McLachlan, Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher. Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy). Written by Stephen Barry and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .

The 42
36 minutes ago
- The 42
Ireland secure 5-try victory over Scotland
Ireland 27 Scotland 21 Stephen Barry reports from Virgin Media Park IF IRELAND showed some pre-World Cup rust, they soon shook it off to overturn a 14-point deficit in a five-try victory over Scotland in Cork. First international tries from props Sadhbh McGrath and Niamh O'Dowd, plus Exeter Chiefs debutant Nancy McGillivray, were highlight moments from the six-point success. After the double sickener of losing back-rowers Erin King and Dorothy Wall for the World Cup, the form of Grace Moore to pocket player-of-the-match honours was most welcome. Head coach Scott Bemand was also boosted by some returning stars. Captain Sam Monaghan got her first run out in 13 months after an ACL layoff, while Béibhinn Parsons completed her comeback from consecutive leg breaks. For both players, it was their first cap since beating Scotland in April 2024. With gaps to fill in the pack, Bemand handed debuts to Connacht flankers Ivana Kiripati, from the start, and Ailish Quinn, off the bench. A series of handling and disciplinary errors meant the opening part of the contest was spent camped in their half. Vice-captain Amee-Leigh Costigan came up with a tryline penalty to deny the Scots, but the visitors returned for their breakthrough after 15 minutes. From an Irish line-out, Kiripati knocked on and Lisa Thomson pounced for the touchdown, despite Monaghan's best efforts. The Trailfinders centre converted her try. Advertisement Scotland were hit and miss on their line-outs, but Ireland kept giving them opportunities to reload. Within six minutes, Scotland unleashed a set-piece power play as Lucia Scott sliced through untouched to score. Thomson's conversion made it 14-0. A serious injury to Lana Skeldon seemed to take the wind out of their sails. Ireland were given a second and third chance to launch close-range attacks as Dannah O'Brien's final pass to Parsons didn't go to hand. They eventually made it count as 20-year-old Buncrana-born prop McGrath barged over for her first international try. O'Brien's conversion hit the post. It was two tries in four minutes when Moore's break led to a quick-passing move, sparked by Brittany Hogan. Eve Higgins drew the last defender for Méabh Deely to race home. O'Brien nailed the touchline conversion as they trailed 14-12 at half-time. It took six second-half minutes before Ireland grabbed their first lead. Kiripati was initially held up over the line, but once Scotland kicked the restart out on the full, Ireland were presented with a five-metre line-out. They pressed onto the tryline before O'Brien pulled the ball back to release McGillivray for a memorable debut try. The lead remained at three as O'Brien missed the conversion. Scottish discipline continued to erode. A deliberate knock-on saw winger Coreen Grant sin-binned as they coughed up 11 consecutive penalties on either side of half-time. Out of nothing, Scotland got back ahead in their last play with 14 players. Poor defending allowed Emma Orr to sprint through a gap to score. Thomson's kick made it 21-17. But Ireland dug deep to edge ahead after 67 minutes. O'Dowd ripped possession out of Scottish hands before the Wexford native found herself at the end of the move to dive over. Enya Breen's conversion came up short. They earned a late cushion when Deirbhile Nic a Bháird dashed over from an advancing line-out maul. Breen became the second home kicker to strike the post, but their lead was never threatened. Ireland face Canada in Belfast next Saturday ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan in Northampton. Ireland scorers: Tries: Sadhbh McGrath, Méabh Deely, Nancy McGillivray, Niamh O'Dowd, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird. Conversions: Dannah O'Brien [1 from 3], Enya Breen [0 from 2]. Scotland scorers: Tries: Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr. Conversions: Lisa Thomson [3/3]. IRELAND: Méabh Deely; Béibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien (Enya Breen 59), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Emily Lane 59); Siobhán McCarthy (Niamh O'Dowd 49), Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Neve Jones 68), Sadhbh McGrath (Linda Djougang 49); Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (capt) (Fiona Tuite 34); Grace Moore (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 2-13), Ivana Kiripati (Ailish Quinn 68), Brittany Hogan (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird 59). SCOTLAND: Chloe Rollie; Coreen Grant (yellow card 51), Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Lucia Scott; Hannah Ramsay (Beth Blacklock 56), Caity Mattinson (Leia Brebner-Holden 51) (Evie Wills 70, HIA); Anne Young (Leah Bartlett 40), Lana Skeldon (Elis Martin 31), Elliann Clarke (Molly Poolman 54); Emma Wassell (Adelle Ferrie 64), Rachel Malcolm (capt) (Eva Donaldson 64); Rachel McLachlan, Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher. Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy).