Brennan and Watts combine for late Rovers win

Adam Brennan was again heroic for Shamrock Rovers – we'll likely be saying that many times – as his run brought about a penalty converted by Dylan Watts to decide a somewhat sterile game in the capital.

Brennan is an old-school winger that Hoops fans already love and he prompted a clumsy challenge from substitute Conor Barr, with substitute Watts readily converting from the spot with nine minutes to go.

Derry are down a few bodies but their first match on the road suggested they are off the pace of the champions.

Again, as in the recent victory over Saint Patrick's Athletic, the bench proved pivotal for Stephen Bradley, who accepted a presentation pre-game: this being his 445th competitive game as Rovers manager edged him ahead of the great Paddy Coad in numerical terms at this old club.

This event allowed late comers a reprieve as nothing of relevance happened in the opening ten minutes until Jack Byrne failed to work Eddie Beach after a beautiful Rovers move on a chilly evening in Tallaght.

Byrne was revelling. On the dozen minutes, despite fine defensive work from James McClean, Graham Burke found his buddy and Beach seemed to read Byrne's mind, diving left to fashion a fine save.

Burke, who arguably protects the football better than anyone in the league, did not do that in a dangerous area on 18 minutes, but Michael Duffy's effort was blocked – a relief for the Hoops who were over-run. With so many offensive players in the team, there was likely to be considerable weight on the shoulders of Matt Healy behind Byrne and Burke.

A neat exchange between Byrne and Victor Ozhianvuna nearly saw the former sneak in but it was a fittingly tame conclusion to the first quarter of a so-far-disappointing encounter. However, the crowd were on their feet on 34 minutes: it looked certain that Rovers would go in front.

Typically, Burke and Byrne were key to a move the former began and which also involved the wonderkid Brennan; after Byrne's reverse pass allowed Burke to go one-on-one with Beach, the Welsh stopper, on loan from Kilmarnock, did superbly well to block.

James McClean was struggling to make an impact but brother Patrick flashed a shot wide after the ball broke nicely to him following a poor delivery from a surprisingly ineffective Michael Duffy.

In the next attack, Duffy's delivery was top-class, and Rovers were relieved to clear for a corner. So isolated was Josh Thomas (subbed at the interval as was Gavin Whyte), it felt as though he had barely touched the ball when brushed off it easily on 42 minutes, Derry disappointing. Nor at the other end was Michael Noonan but on the periphery.

Brennan found space on the left after sweet play from Byrne and the former UCD player crossed for Burke, whose header failed to trouble Beach.

The last action of the half, a badly-overhit Jack Byrne pass, at least inspired that the second half could only be an improvement. That would prove only marginally true. Then a rare one – a long-range Burke effort with his right foot – suggested Rovers and the South Stand were finding their stride.

Brennan looked to have Noonan in but the starlet narrowly failed to control on 62 minutes, Derry offering next to nothing.

Brennan has been a revelation and the rest so far for the green and white and, while Barr will regret the collision that prompted whistler Kevin O'Sullivan to point to the spot, these are the risks involved in trying to curtail one of the most promising wide players the league has ever seen. Watts is an old hand under pressure, like Bradley five matches shy of 500 wiser.

Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Dan Cleary (Lee Grace 59), Roberto Lopes, Cory O'Sullivan; Tunmise Sobowale (Jake Mulraney 71), Matthew Healy, Jack Byrne, Victor Ozhianvuna (Dylan Watts 71), Adam Brennan; Michael Noonan (John McGovern 71), Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 78).

Derry City: Eddie Beach; Barry Cotter (Conor Barr 68), Patrick McClean, Jamie Stott, Ben Doherty; Gavin Whyte (Dipo Akinyemi 46), James McClean, Adam O'Reilly, Michael Duffy; James Clarke (Henry Rylah 68); Josh Thomas (James Olayinka 46).

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