Rovers' bid to seal the title goes on for yet another week as Derry refuse to let it happen on their patch

SHAMROCK Rovers fans have been made to wait AGAIN before they can uncork the bubbly.

- BY MARK McCADDEN

The Hoops fell yesterday to their third consecutive Premier Division defeat - and this time it was Derry City, the only side that can still catch them, notionally at least, that kept the champagne on ice.

Derry can only match the league leaders' points total, but are 13 goals behind their rivals - too big a gap to make up in the final week.

Brandon Fleming's first goal in senior football, 25 minutes into Sunday's game, put the hosts in front at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

The Dubliners were reduced to 10 men when Lee Grace was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute - just five minutes after his first. Both were for challenges on Fleming.

And to rub salt into their wounds, they conceded a second goal late in the game, as Sadou Diallo came off the bench to sweep home a low Michael Duffy cross.

The game was held up briefly after Diallo's goal, as some Candystripes fans threw flares onto the pitch, with one landing in Rovers keeper Ed McGinty's six-yard-box.