Ugly scenes overshadow League of Ireland clash between Derry City and Bohemians as thugs shoot FIREWORKS at fans
Social media footage has circulated appearing to show fans of both teams clashing outside the ground prior to kick-off.
1
Carl Winchester after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Bohemians at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium
Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Other videos appeared to show a group of people shooting fireworks in the direction of others through a fence.
During the game, there was a brief stoppage when a flare was thrown from outside the ground and landed on and damaged the artificial pitch.
The Irish Sun has contacted Derry City, Bohemians, and the PSNI for comment.
On the pitch, it was Shamrock Rovers who emerged as the biggest winners from Friday night's game between the Candystripes and the Gypsies.
Read More on League of Ireland
Former York City striker Dipo Akinyemi put Derry ahead on his Brandywell debut with a header from Michael Duffy's cross five minutes into first half stoppage time.
That lead didn't last long as Ross Tierney blasted home from James Clarke's cross on 52 minutes to rescue a point for the second placed Dubliners.
Both teams have now played the same amount of games as
Tiernan Lynch handed a debut to former Hull City fullback Brandon Fleming who was one of three changes from last week's
Most read in Sport
He replaced Shane Ferguson while hat-trick hero Liam Boyce regained a starting berth at the expense of Gavin Whyte who was a notable omission from the squad.
Carl Winchester was also back at the expense of Adam O'Reilly who dropped to the bench.
Oasis launch shock football club partnership despite Liam and Noel Gallagher's dying love for Man City
Alan Reynolds made sweeping changes, seven in total from the team which thrashed their Leinster Senior League opposition, Killester Donnycarney in the cup.
Bohs were enjoying plenty of possession in the early stages but
The Londoner found the run of Duffy with a clever ball over the top and when the ex-Celtic winger cut it back to Liam Boyce the striker fluffed his lines.
The ball broke out to the edge of the box where Akinyemi finished.
There was a five minute delay when a flare was thrown over the Southend Park stand onto the pitch and set fire to the artificial surface on the half hour mark.
The stewards were slow to react much to the annoyance of the players but eventually the flame was extinguished and play got back underway.
Bohs were back on level terms just seven minutes into the second half.
Ross Tierney got onto the end of James Clarke's cross from the right and volleyed past the helpless Maher.
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