Shamrock Rovers took a decisive victory at Derry City on Friday night, as the Hoops continue to climb up the League of Ireland table.
Rovers ran out 3-1 winners at the Brandywell, in a result which sees Stephen Bradley's side move to within two points of second-placed Bohemians - with a game in hand. With league leaders Shelbourne falling to a second successive defeat at Galway, it was a good night all round on the pitch for Rovers.
Off the pitch, however, there were unfortunate scenes, as yet more missiles rained down and social media footage appeared to show objects being aimed at the Rovers fans in attendance at the Brandywell.
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Derry City v Shamrock Rovers interrupted by flare on pitch
In by far the most surreal clip we've seen from the League of Ireland this season, stoppage time saw a flare land on the artificial surface in Derry with part of the astroturf briefly catching fire.
Play was halted for a moment while the officials and players waited for the flare to be removed by a steward - before a young child took matters into his own hands, invading the pitch and taking the flare in hand as he ran away from the scene.
Flare thrown onto side of pitch at Brandywell, probably burning a chunk of the astro, then a child runs onto pitch, picks up flare and runs off with it. Totally normal pic.twitter.com/ieHMgpOBup
— Aidan O'Hara (@oharaa) April 19, 2024
The clip has gone viral on social media overnight.
However, shocking alternate footage of the incident from behind the goal appeared to show young fans scaling the wall behind the Shamrock Rovers end and pelting missiles at those below.
— Peter Murphy (@peter_t_murphy) April 19, 2024
Some reports suggest that the flare which made it way onto the pitch may also have come from outside the stadium.
At full-time, Shamrock Rovers fans were brought into the centre of the pitch for protection as Derry City fans left the stadium.
Posting footage of the Rovers fans in the centre circle post-match, one home supporter took to Twitter to apologise, saying: "Derry City fans who are true supporters do not condone what happened tonight, no away fan should be placed in this position. Rovers fans, I as a fan apologise, wee fucking weezles are not Derry fans."
Derry City fans who are true supporters do not condone what happened tonight, no away fan should be placed in this position.
Rovers fans, I as a fan apologise, wee fucking weezles are not Derry Fans. pic.twitter.com/ykRtDhqAy6— Marty Skinz #JFT97 (@Martyskinz) April 19, 2024
The incidents in Derry come after a fortnight of much debate within the League of Ireland on the matter of missiles and flares being thrown onto the pitch.
Shelbourne's 1-0 defeat in Galway was played with no away supporters in attendance, a punishment handed down after a linesman was hit by a flare in injury time of their dramatic late draw against Drogheda United earlier this month. The club announced this week that they have handed a lifetime ban to the supporter responsible for throwing the flare.
Speaking to Balls.ie in the aftermath of the incident against Drogheda, Shelbourne manager Damien Duff called for a league-wide solution to the growing issue of pyrotechnics being thrown on the pitch.
I want to help the league, I want to help the club and I want to help these people.
I can't see how the crowds would suffer but with things like this the crowds could suffer - Mauro being racially abused, feeling safe at the game, it would stop the next group of young fans coming as they wouldn't feel safe.
It has to stop. Granted we're in the news and it's our problem at the minute and it's a Shelbourne problem. I'd like to think it will never happen again, especially when I'm here.
But I have to say, and I don't think anyone can argue, it's a league problem. It's rife around the league...I said it after the game on Friday, it's a league problem and it needs to be sorted sooner rather than later.
Derry City and the FAI are yet to comment on the events at the Brandywell on Friday night.
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