Play is halted after a child carrying a FLARE runs across the pitch during a League of Ireland clash between Derry City and Shamrock Rovers

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.

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.

The 34-year-old added a second just minutes later before Richie Towell made it three for Stephen Bradley’s side.

City managed a consolation through substitute Pat Hoban but the deficit proved too great to overcome as the game reached its closing stages.

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.

Derry City’s clash with Shamrock Rovers was temporarily halted after a flare was thrown on the pitch

A clip of the stoppage-time disruption at Brandywell later gained significant traction on social media 

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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.

One user shared footage of the incident on social media writing: ‘Flare thrown onto side of pitch at Brandywell, probably burning a chunk of the astro, then a child runs onto pitch, picks up flare and runs off with it. Totally normal’

Another wrote: ‘A Derry child … They built differently.’

While a further fan asked: ‘This is not a joke serious harm could have happened to that child where are his parents.’ 

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.

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.