Stephen Kenny must be wondering how his Derry City side didn’t get at least a point from last night’s encounter with Shamrock Rovers.

The Candystripes dominated throughout but their achilles heel came back to haunt them as they missed chance after chance at the Tallaght Stadium. The defeat means they are now eight points adrift of Michael O’Neill’s side.

The victory for Rovers keeps up their title hopes, but on this display, champions and league leaders Bohemians will have nothing to fear from their Dublin rivals.

The home side, who started on the front foot, took a seventh minute lead thanks to a fantastic strike from Sean O’Connor.

A quickly taken throw-in by Ollie Cahill caught Gareth McGlynn napping, released O’Connor and with his weaker right foot the winger curled the ball high into the top corner past a full-stretch Gerard Doherty.

Derry started to come more and more into the game and they were unlucky not to get on level terms in the 21st minute when a clever dummy by Ruairdhi Higgins set-up Kevin Deery, but the midfielder’s toe poke effort from the edge of the box was straight at Barry Murphy.

Minutes later the visitors missed another super chance to level things, this time Deery’s low drilled cross into the danger zone found McGlynn, but the winger missed from only six yards.

Kenny’s side were made to rue those missed chances as Rovers doubled their advantage in the 25th minute, with only their second attempt on goal, but once again it was more poor defending by City.

Dessie Baker easily got away from Stephen Gray before sending in a super cross from the right which found Tadhg Purcell, who couldn’t believe his luck as he was totally unmarked in the six yard box and calmly headed home.

To their credit, Derry didn’t let their heads drop and kept pushing forward, with former Linfield man Tommy Stewart going close to pulling one back, but the winger’s shot was kept out by Murphy.

Just after the half-hour mark another Higgins delivery into the Rovers box this time found Tam McManus, but his glancing header at the near post was easily gathered by Murphy.

The Brandywell men deservedly pulled one back right at the start of the second half thanks to an outstanding strike from |McManus.

A Higgins cross field pass was half cut-out by O’Connor, the alert Scotsman was first to react to the loose ball and calmly steady himself before blasting home from fully 25 yards.

The Dubliners should have increased their lead in the 48th minute when Gary Twigg got away from Clive Delaney, but his side footed effort from close range was superbly kept out by Doherty.

A cushioned lay-off by Farren in the 70th minute found his strike partner McManus, but his long range shot was saved at the second attempt by the fortunate Murphy.

Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Sullivan, Sives, Price, Cahill; Purcell, Robinson, Rice, O’Connor; Twigg, Baker. Subs: Johnston for Twigg (74); Flynn for Baker (84); Bradley for Rice (90).

Derry City: Doherty, O’Brien, Molloy, Delaney, Gray; McGlynn, Deery, Molloy, Stewart; Farren, McManus. Subs: Scullion for Stewart (74); Nash for Farren (81); Martyn for Gray (88).

Referee: Declan Hanney (Dublin).