Donning the No. 16 jersey on his Derry City comeback, James McClean produced a performance in a new midfield role that Roy Keane would have endorsed.
Instead of the flying winger he carved his reputation on, the 36-year-old was flying into tackles as the central lynchpin of his hometown’s crusade for a first Premier title for 29 years.
There were no points accrued for toppling the double-winners Shamrock Rovers on their home turf but McClean and the billionaire owner who hatched his homecoming, Philip O’Doherty, will deem this victory as a signal of their intent.
Derry’s real business kicks off next Friday by hosting Sligo Rovers but it can be taken from this second debut that the veteran’s repertoire will be utilised in a deeper position dictating the tempo.
The Ireland centurion was straight in the action from the off, earning a corner after only three minutes which he floated into the box, but it was from a corner on the opposite side on 33 minutes that led to the only goal.
Once Michael Duffy tapped the ball short to McClean, he skinned past Max Kovalevskis to the endline and whipped in a low cross.
There to anticipate the space was another close-season recruit, Darragh Markey, to volley his first-team effort in off the crossbar from 12 yards.
Kovalevskis was one of three 17-year-olds included in the starting line-up by Stephen Bradley. Victor Ozhianvuna, in his last season before joining Arsenal for €1.7m next January, was another, along with goalkeeper Alex Noonan.
It testified to an experimental approach adopted by Rovers due to their late return to pre-season training.
Having Uefa Conference League matches until December 18 distorted the calendar, affording Derry scope to steal a march in terms of preparations.
They were full value for their win here but the league trophy is the piece of silverware Tiernan Lynch will be judged on.
City are still in the market for reinforcements, including former Ireland defender Kevin Long, but the additions so far looked to have strengthened their unit.
Regular custodian Ed McGinty was introduced at the break and twice he produced stops on Derry breakaways from substitute Adam O’Reilly and striker Josh Thomas to prevent a wider margin of defeat.
Noonan also denied Swansea City loanee Thomas in the first half, though he was slightly off-balance when chased back by Corey O’Sullivan.
Matt Healy, one of three interval subs for Rovers, came closest to levelling with a shot that Brian Maher batted away but the Hoops only worked off scraps in the final third.
A Noonan (E McGinty 46); D Cleary, R Lopes, A Matthews (A Brennan 62); M Kovalevskis (D Watts 46), V Ozhianvuna, C Malley (M Healy 46), C O’Sullivan; J Byrne (D Grant 46), J Mulraney; J McGovern.
B Maher; A Bannon (B Doherty 80), P McClean, R Slevin, B Fleming; C Winchester (A O’Reilly 46), J McClean; J Clarke (K Dos Santos 80), D Markey, M Duffy; J Thomas (H Rylah 88).
Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
4711.
