An inspired 84th-minute "double" substitution by Derry City manager Kevin Mahon led to his side gaining the outright leadership of the National League Premier Division following this top of the table clash with Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell.

And Derry's late victory maintains their 100 per cent record and gives the "Candy Stripes" an early three points cushion over second placed Rovers, Cork City and Bohemians.

Local teenager, Darren McCaul, succeeded in heading Derry to the top of the table in the 85th minute, 60 seconds after he had entered the fray. And the cross which led to the goal was supplied by Andy Moran, who came on at the same time as the goalscorer.

Despite the fact that Rovers full back, Matt Britton, may have got the final touch, Mahon was adamant that the local teenager had scored and had already claimed the goal.

"As far as I'm concerned, Darren got the important touch to head the ball home having kept the pressure on the full back. He has already claimed it and I've no problems with that," he said.

Commenting on that late substitution, Mahon claimed he had taken a gamble. "We decided to take a gamble late in the match, Gary Beckett and Liam Coyle were given the job of stretching the Rovers defence from the start and both players worked very hard," he added.

"But with time running out we decided to bring them off as they were exhausted and use fresh legs in the form of Darren McCaul and Andy Moran.

"Andy did so well when whipping in a superb cross while Darren kept the pressure on a defender before heading the ball home," he said.

"Obviously I'm delighted with the result but I was particularly happy with our overall performance. We worked so hard and I'm delighted that the crowd went home happy.

"It's early days and we've no intention of getting carried away, but we've kept our 100 per cent record and that was important," he concluded.

Rovers, however, dominated the early stages of the game with central defender Shane Jackson and striker Tony Cousins going close in the opening half-hour.

However, the home side clawed their way back and when a Johnny McIvor close range header was diverted wide of the target by Rovers keeper Tony O'Dowd, Sean Hargan was unlucky when denied by Jackson in the 42nd minute.

A McIvor corner was flicked on by Coyle and when the ball dropped perfectly into the path of Hargan, the full back's full-blooded drive was superbly blocked by Jackson on the six yard line.

Rovers opened the second half in the ascendancy when Sean Francis wasted a good opportunity but Billy Woods forced Derry keeper, David Platt, into a superb save in the 51st minute, the keeper blocking the ball with his legs.

Darren Kelly and Eamon Doherty had chances for Derry before Beckett squandered the best scoring chance of the match in the 82nd minute.

Sent clear by Coyle, Beckett attempted to round the advancing O'Dowd and when the ball broke to Doherty, he flashed his shot wide.

Then came that late cruel blow for Rovers. Eddie McCallion sent Moran scampering clear up the right and when the striker outwitted Tommy Dunne, his inch perfect cross saw McCaul beat Britton in the challenge and the ball flashed into the net.

DERRY CITY: Platt; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Hargan; Doherty, Quigley, Hegarty, McIvor; Coyle, Beckett. Subs: Moran and McCaul for Coyle and Beckett (both 84 mins).

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Britton, Jackson, Palmer, Dunne; Robinson, Kenny, Tracey, Woods; Cousins, Francis. Subs: Markey for Francis (59 mins), Colwell for Kenny (72 mins), Stewart for Dunne (87 mins).

Referee - J McDermott (Dublin).