Derry City denied victory as Shamrock Rovers rescue point

Derry City's Liam Boyce scored his first goal in almost 12 months but it wasn't enough to secure a win against Shamrock Rovers. The striker's magnificent stooping header gave Derry a deserved lead on 25 minutes.

What happened?

Derry City made a blistering start to the game, striking the crossbar after three minutes when Sobowale gifted possession to Adam O'Reilly. The visitors took the lead as James McClean clipped in a cross and Boyce drifted into space, guiding his header into the corner of the net.

Why it matters for Derry City

The result leaves Derry City in sixth place after 23 games, seven points ahead of second from bottom Sligo Rovers who have two games in hand. As of 23 Jun 2026, Derry City stands at 2nd in League of Ireland Premier, with 63 pts, 18W-9D-9L from 36 games, and a recent form of WWWWD.

What comes next?

Tiernan Lynch made three changes to the team which lost to Galway United as Derry faced the second fixture in a three-game week and a second successive match on the road. Former Shamrock Rovers fullback Barry Cotter returned to the starting line-up after missing the 2-1 loss at Pearse Stadium.