Shelbourne 0 - 1 Derry City

A second half Michael Duffy goal was enough to give Derry victory over a spirited Shelbourne side at Tolka Park on Saturday night.

The visitors failed to impress for long periods and can count themselves lucky that the home side missed some excellent chances during the 90 minutes. A win is a win, though, and Declan Devine will be pleased by the efficiency and composure shown by his side to close the game out.

The home side started brightly and played with a desire that would have pleased new manager Johnny McDonnell. They should have taken the lead on 12 minutes when Mark Leech made great ground up the right hand side before crossing into the box. Robert Bayly stepped over the ball and left Sean Brennan eight yards out with the goal at his mercy, but all he could do was blaze over and the crisis was averted for the visitors.

In perfect conditions both teams passed the ball crisply and there were numerous passages of good play which just lacked a clinical development in the final third. Shels almost did convert a good move on 18 minutes when Brennan and Dean Kelly linked up well before the former saw his shot from eight yards well saved by Doherty in the Derry goal.

The visitors were not justifying their league position but began to look more dangerous as the half progressed. Patrick McEleney and Michael Duffy had half chances but they lacked a real threat in front of goal. That changed on 42 minutes when a long, looping Kevin Deery cross was met by the head of Duffy at the back post with the header looping cross goal and just wide of Niall Burdon’s left hand post.

Two minutes later Bayly saw his snapshot fly over the Derry bar from 25 yards. In the ensuing play Derry broke and Duffy’s shot from the edge of the box came back of the post. The play continued and Paddy Kavanagh found himself clean through only to fire his shot low and wide from an awkward angle. 

The early exchanges of the second half were similar to those of the first with both teams playing nice football without threatening the opposition’s goal. Shels had two half chances through Brennan and Leech but neither troubled Doherty. The game swung on 64 minutes, when a long ball was well held up by Rory Patterson who fed the oncoming Duffy. He beat the full back before firing a left footed effort off the underside of the bar and into the back of Burdon’s net.

The goal didn’t have much effect on the pattern of the game with both teams continuing to pass the ball around but failing to create clear cut chances. Shels introduced Philly Hughes and Darren Tinnelly in search of an equaliser, but for long periods they looked just like a team who have not scored a league goal for a month.

Shelbourne’s best chance to level came on 85 minutes. A Pat Flynn cross was missed by both Hughes and the Derry defence. Waiting at the far post was Kelly who fired a volley which looked to be heading for the back of the net only for an excellent goal-line clearance header from Ryan McBride. 

Two minutes later and a mix up between Jack Memery and Burdon outside the Shels box left substitute Mark Griffin with the goal at his mercy from 25 yards, but his lob flew agonizingly wide of the right hand post.

Burdon was again involved on 90 minutes when he could only parry Duffy’s shot and Patterson looked as if he was going to tap in the rebound before the Shels keeper did enough by stretching and ensuring the strikers shot went wide of the target.

Derry saw the closing minutes out, keeping the pressure on St. Pat’s at the top of the table. For Shels, their game with Bohemians next week takes on more significance then just a local derby, they lie eight points adrift at the summit and as the weeks go by games are starting to run out.

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon; Pat Flynn, Graham Gartland, Ian Ryan, Jack Memery; Adam Hanlon (Darren Tinnelly 69), Stephen Hurley, Robert Bayly (Glenn Cronin 46), Sean Brennan; Mark Leech (Philip Hughes 72), Dean Kelly.
Subs not used: Ger Hanley, Brian Shortall, Adam O’Connor, Stephen Sheerin.

Booked: Hurley (49), Memery (90).

Derry City: Gerard Doherty; Simon Madden, Ryan McBride, Shane McEleney, Michael Duffy; Patrick Kavanagh (Mark Griffin 80), Barry McNamee, Kevin Deery (Sean Houston ’76), Patrick McEleney, Ruaidhri Higgins; Rory Patterson.
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Stewart Greacen, Michael Rafter, Ryan Curran, Raymond Foy.

Booked: Patterson (60).

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 636.

Extratime Man of the Match: Michael Duffy (Derry City).