Burke's late penalty keeps Rovers in control of title race

Derry City 1 Shamrock Rovers 1

Graham Burke's 84th minute penalty kept Shamrock Rovers on track to claim their fourth consecutive Premier Division title having held Derry City at a capacity packed Brandywell.

Derry will find this share of the spoils hard to take having finished the game strongly before centre back Shane McEleney brought Burke crashing down to earth for which he was shown a red card.

After what was a thriller played in front of under pressure Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, Derry will feel particularly disappointed as they failed to cut Rovers' four points lead back to one.

Stephen Bradley's men therefore have maintained their lead with six games remaining until the end of the season.

Clearly starting on the front foot in front of their biggest home crowd of the season, City pressed with authority forcing the Rovers' midfield back and keeping their three-men backline busy.

The first clearcut chance was created by Derry when Paul McMullan and Ronan Boyce combined on the right flank before Boyce directed his shot on the Rovers goal which was easily dealt with by Alan Mannus.

In the 12th minute the hard working McMulllan broke clear again and while he delivered a teasing cross, Rovers defender Lee Grace did well to clear his lines with Will Patching advancing.

However it was Rovers who fashioned a superb chance to break the deadlock following a corner in the 28th minute.

Captain Ronan Finn curled the ball in deep and with the home defence failing to clear, the 'Hoops' had three efforts blocked before keeper, Brian Maher, forced the ball wide at the expense of another corner.

Derry had their fans on their feet again when Michael Duffy burst through on the left, his low centre whipped clear by Grace who got