Sport

Derry feel backlash of early Hutton strike

Peter Hutton scored one of the quickest goals in League of Ireland history, but he and his team-mates still felt the brunt of…

Paul Buttner at Tolka Park
Tue Dec 17 2002 - 00:00

Peter Hutton scored one of the quickest goals in League of Ireland history, but he and his team-mates still felt the brunt of Shamrock Rovers' two recent defeats as Derry City's slump continued in an eventful game at a damp Richmond Park last night.

Shamrock Rovers' players were left staring blankly at each other as they found themselves a goal down before any of them had touched the ball.

Tommy McCallion tipped off to Liam Coyle and Coyle cut through the Rovers' midfield to play Hutton in, who slid the ball under Tony O'Dowd for a freakishly timely first goal of the season. But it was an early wake-up call for the Dublin side who had every incentive to win the game.

Rovers, keen to get back on track in their quest for a European place, slowly but tellingly got back into the game, equalising six minutes before the interval - topscorer Noel Hunt helping himself to his 10th league goal of the season.

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Stephen Grant deserves much of the credit for Rovers' revival, whipping over a good cross from the left that Hunt stretched to head past Alan Gough.

O'Dowd had to make a good stop to keep out an Eamonn Doherty shot a minute before the break.

But it was all Rovers from the resumption. Grant came close to giving them the lead within three minutes of this second half - his free-kick shaving Gough's left-hand upright.

Minutes later under-pressure Derry defender Ruairi Boyle headed against his own crossbar from Shane Robinson's cross.

Rovers got their deserved reward on 65 minutes as they finally took the lead through the influential Grant.

Cutting in from the left, leaving Doherty in his wake, Grant shot powerfully past Gough from over 20 yards for a fine goal.

Paul Caffrey put the seal on Rovers win 13 minutes from time when tapping home Hunt's cross from the left.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Gough, Palmer, Byrne, Keddy; Robinson, Dimech (Costello, 80 mins), Caffrey, S Grant; Hunt, Molloy.

DERRY CITY: Gough; Deery, Boyle, McLaughlin, Hargan; McGlynn (Gill 61 min), Doherty, Hutton, Friars; Coyle (Hughes 37 min), T McCallion (McCready 81 min).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).