Derry City interim manager Mark Connolly admitted it felt like “two points dropped” rather than one gained after Sunday’s thrilling 3-3 draw with champions Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell.
City raced into 2-0 and 3-1 leads during a superb first half, but the Hoops showed their pedigree after the break and could even have snatched victory late on, with substitute Will Fitzgerald’s close‑range header brilliantly saved by debutant Tom Norcott.
“It feels like a loss,” Connolly said.
“I hear they have their music on and they’re probably happy going down the road with a point.
“I’m just disappointed we didn’t get three. I think we fully deserved it.
“It was a good match. I wasn’t exactly enjoying it on the sideline the way it went, but for neutrals and Rovers fans it was a great game to watch.
“They didn’t have many chances. We’re Derry City and we want to get after teams and play good football. We’re changing the way we’ve played for most of the season and that takes time to adapt.
“For large spells tonight, and in the Sligo game, people can see what this group can do. We’ve taken the handbrake off and gone after teams, and I’m sure we’ll win a lot more than we lose.”
Connolly was encouraged by several aspects of the performance.
“Again, the first half was outstanding. It was exactly how we want to play — front foot, getting after teams, playing good football,” he said.
“We did all that in abundance against a Shamrock Rovers team top of the league, and we fully deserved to be 3-1 up. So it’s very disappointing.
“In the second half we were comfortable; it’s just the goals we gave up. Balls into the box — we didn’t deal with them. We tired a bit. The boys have been playing and training so hard and they gave absolutely everything.
“As a football club, we want a team that plays front‑foot football.
“Good football, getting after teams. It’s completely different to how we’ve been playing, and it’s going to take time.
“The boys have shown — especially the first half at Bohs, the whole game at Sligo, and 60 minutes tonight — exactly how we want Derry City to look.
“We just need to keep working on defending balls into our box, and we’ll do that again this week. The players have bought in and are doing exactly what we want.
“We should have gone 4-1 or 5-1 up. It’s those moments, the goals we’ve given away, that we need to fix. I can’t question anyone’s effort.
“It’s a great group of boys. I love all of them. They’re working so hard for the club, smiling, playing with freedom. We didn’t start the second half poorly — we actually started it really well. I’m just disappointed.
“There’s a lot more good than bad. That’s a Derry City team you can be proud of for large spells — getting after teams, real energy, doing everything for the cause. Unfortunately, we just came up short of the three points.”
Connolly was also delighted to see Ellis Chapman back among the goals, the midfielder scoring twice in the first half.
“He’s a talented player, and that’s exactly why we brought him to the club,” Connolly said. “The way we played tonight suits players like him.
“I thought we played some brilliant stuff — through the lines, diagonal passes, great positions. The goals were excellent.
“Nick Twisk and Adam O’Reilly in midfield, Ellis in those pockets, Darragh Burns and Mickey Duffy with their movement — we gave them real freedom and you saw how good they can be.”
