An injury time winner from Derry City’s Michael Duffy saw Sligo Rovers beaten for the first time in five league games, as the Bit O’Red suffered late heartbreak at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Duffy’s 94th minute winner arrived following an even game in which Rovers goalkeeper Sam Sargeant pulled off a number of decent stops. While the visitors did create opportunities through Cian Kavanagh and the ever-impressive Jad Hakiki.

John Russell’s side were on top throughout the opening half hour of this tie, played 48 hours or so after its initially scheduled kick-off time due to Storm Amy. 

Hakiki trickery bought him space at the edge of the Derry area, but his resulting shot was just off target. 

Sargeant, looking for a hat-trick of clean sheets, kept out an effort from Adam O’Reilly eight minutes from the break and kept Duffy out after the break.

Substitute Sean Stewart then somehow got in front of Danny Mullen’s shot as Rovers looked comfortable dealing with City. 

Cruelly however, Rovers were denied a much deserved point when Duffy headed a Robbie Benson cross to the net in injury time. 

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Hayden Cann (Gavin Whyte 57), Mark Connolly, Jamie Stott, Brandon Fleming; Carl Winchester (Robbie Benson 27), Sadou Diallo (Cameron Dummigan 79); Adam O’Reilly, Michael Duffy; Danny Mullen.

Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant, Edwin Agbaje (Conor Reynolds 86), Sebastian Quirk, Patrick McClean, Will Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki, Cian Kavanagh (Sean Stewart HT), James McManus (Ciaron Harkin 65), Ryan O’Kane (Matthew Wolfe 86), Owen Elding, Gareth McElroy (Oliver Denham 65).

Referee: Neil Doyle.