Poom rescues point for Rovers to keep gap to Derry at six points

SHAMROCK ROVERS 2 (Patrick Hoban 72, Markus Poom 90+1) 

DERRY CITY 2 (Darragh Burns 60, Danny Mullen 86) 

A year on from Derry’s statement win at Tallaght came a similar sequence of events but a different outcome.

The only consolation for the Candystripes heading back north last night from conceding a stoppage-time equaliser was the preservation of their six-point buffer from Rovers.

On a stodgy and soggy surface, this wasn’t the prettiest of meetings between the country’s top two but in this early-season posturing a point apiece will be accepted by each.

A couple of defensive changes, removing Pat Hoban and Michael Duffy, spoke of Derry’s desire to dig in but they failed in the basics by giving Markus Poom a free header to equalise.

Derry’s supremacy in the table over the Hoops was, in part, due to last Friday’s fixture against Drogheda United – one of their bogey teams – falling victim to the Dublin snow and there were doubts that the Tallaght surface would survive the deluge that engulfed the capital from lunchtime onwards.

Referee Damien McGraith left his final inspection until an hour before kick-off but if the pitch known as the best in the country succumbed to the rain it would’ve made a mockery of the summer season which Ireland prides itself on as an outlier.

A heavy surface wasn’t the only reason Ruaidhrí Higgins used the depth of his squad, for the exertions of facing both the FAI Cup winners and league champions 72 hours apart was a factor.

He originally intended on making two changes for the trip to Tallaght but a third was enforced after the team sheet was submitted. Rovers know all about the set-piece sorcery of Will Patching but had to withdraw, enabling Jordan McEneff to accompany Adam O’Reilly in