Play is halted after a child carrying a FLARE runs across the pitch during a League of Ireland clash from opm 2021 salary table Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 0:59
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✓ Published: 20-Apr-2024

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A League of Ireland clash between Derry City and Shamrock Rovers had to be temporarily paused in stoppage time due to an incident with a young fan.<br/><br/>After a tense first half between the two title hopefuls, the visitors took the lead just before the hour mark at Brandywell through Aaron Greene.<br/><br/>The 34-year-old added a second just minutes later before Richie Towell made it three for Stephen Bradley's side.<br/><br/>City managed a consolation through substitute Pat Hoban but the deficit proved too great to overcome as the game reached its closing stages.<br/><br/>The hosts' night went from bad to worse in stoppage time as a flare was thrown from the stands onto the pitch causing a small fire on the astro turf beside the touchline.<br/><br/>Undeterred, a young fan then ran onto the pitch before picking up the still-burning flare and proceeding to sprint along the width of the playing surface whilst leaving a tunnel of smoke in his wake.<br/><br/>One user shared footage of the incident on social media writing: 'Flare thrown onto the side of the pitch at Brandywell, probably burning a chunk of the Astro, then a child runs onto the pitch, picks up a flare and runs off with it. Normal<br/><br/>Another wrote: 'A Derry child … They built differently.'<br/><br/>A further fan asked: 'This is not a joke serious harm could have happened to that child where are his parents.' <br/><br/>Order was restored shortly after, allowing the final minute of stoppage time to be played without incident as Rovers leapfrogged their opposition into third in the table.<br/><br/>Rovers have won the title the last four years in a row and currently sit three points with a game in hand behind current league leaders Shelbourne.