Report courtesy of RTE:
Sligo Rovers broke Derry City hearts at the Brandywell when substitute, Aaron Green, netted an 88th minute winner in front of an attendance of almost 4,000.
Rubbing salt into the wounds of the Candystripes was the fact that they squandered a first half penalty award, as Brendan Clarke saved Eamon Zayed's spotkick.
The goal which stunned the Brandywell saw Raffaele Cretaro float a right wing cross in behind the Derry defence and Green, ghosting in on the blind side, drive his first time shot high into the net from the angle.
The visitors opened brightly but while may have owned the ball during the opening half hour, they failed to extend Derry keeper, Gerard Doherty.
In fact the first clear-cut scoring chance of the match fell to the home side in the 16th minute.
A curling cross from the right by Gareth McGlynn saw Eamon Zayed direct his header straight at Sligo's debutant keeper, Clarke.
However, on the half-hour, with Sligo continuing to press and following a John Dillon free-kick, Jason McGuinness got his head to the ball which struck the underside of the crossbar before it was whipped away to safety.
Three minutes later the visitors hit the woodwork again when a low shot from Danny Ventre crashed off the butt of the upright with Derry keeper, Gerard Doherty, beaten.
In the 35th minute, Derry went close when Zayed played McGlynn in, but his shot screamed across the face of goal and wide.
Soon after, the home side were presented with a superb chance to break the deadlock when awarded a penalty.
McGuinness was adjudged to have clipped McGlynn when inside the area but Zayed's spotkick was parried by Clarke before McGlynn flashed the rebound over the crossbar.
Sligo maintained the impetus in the early stages of the second half when Mathew Blinkhorn had a shot saved by the legs of Doherty in the 56th minute.
But back came Derry with Clarke pulling off a top drawer save to deny Danny Lafferty in the 68th minute, the keeper pushing the effort around his post.
However Sligo were not be denied and Green's late goal was enough to seal the win.
Derry City: Doherty; McCallion, Greacen, S. McEleney, Lafferty; P. McEleney (Harkin, 84), Molloy, Higgins (McCrudden, 89), McLaughlin; McGlynn, Zayed (McDaid, 79).
Sligo Rovers: Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness , Davoren; Dillon (Green, 58 mins.), Ventre, Ryan, Doyle; Russell (Cretaro, 75), Blinkhorn 6 (Kirby, 83).
Great to start the season off with a win and especially in that fashion, grabbing the goal so near to the end. Bring on Shams next week!!!!!
