EA Sports Cup Report: Derry City 7 - 3 Shelbourne

From Odhrán Crumley at the Brandywell Stadium 

It was goals galore at the Brandywell on May Bank Holiday Monday evening as Derry City cruised into the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup with a 7-3 win over Shelbourne. 

Ronan Curtis grabbed the match ball with a first half hatrick as Derry led the First Division side 5-2 at the end of an action packed half. 

Kenny Shiels’ men went 2-0 up in the early stages of the game before a David O’Sullivan brace brought Shels level.

In the end further goals from Aaron McEneff, Ronan Hale, Nicky Low and Nathan Boyle secured a whirlwind passage to the last four. 

Low had a chance to opening the scoring with the first attack of the game feeding off Curtis’ hold-up play. 

Low’s first touch set him up for a strike that flashed across the face of goal before going wide. 

In the sixth minute of the game the deadlock was broken as Curtis knocked the ball over the onrushing Lee Steacy and into the net after some fine play from Ronan Hale. 

Curtis doubled his sides advantage in the 15th minute of the game after being threaded through. 

He showed real composure to round Steacy sending the ball into the net via the post for his second of the game. 



Shelbourne supporters would have feared the worst after the opening 20 minutes as Derry continued to press. 

But midway through the half a long ball from defence allowed David O’Sullivan to get in behind and he made no mistake slotting the ball into the bottom right corner of the net. 

Seven minutes later O’Sullivan would have a chance to level proceedings from the spot after Jack Doyle brought Shane Farrell down in the area. 

O’Sullivan confidently stepped up sending Gerard Doherty the wrong way hitting the bottom right corner of the net for the second time, levelling the game. 

Less than ten minutes later though Derry regained the lead goal as Ronan Hale showed his goal scoring instincts reacting first to a driven cross to blast into the net. 

Thre minutes from the break the Candystripes restored their two goal cushion as Aaron McEneff fired home a penalty after Ronan Hale was fouled in the area. 



At the end of a breath-taking first half the scoreline read Derry City 5 Shelbourne 2. 

Ben Doherty and Aaron McEneff came close to extending their sides lead as Kenny Shiels’ side continued to pepper the opposition goal but we had to wait until the  81stminute for the next goal. 

Adam Evans came close for Shels in the intervening period as they had relative success on the counter but nine minutes from time the Reds did pull a goal back.

A sensational ball over the top found the run of James English who fired home in fine fashion with a half volley into the roof of the net. 

It only took Derry two minutes to reply as John Cofie caught the Shels ‘keeper Steacy in possession outside the area allowing Low to fire into the empty net from twenty yards. 

But the scoring was not finished there as substitute Nathan Boyle got in on the act showing real composure to slot the ball home to make it 7-3 to conclude a ten goal thriller.

Derry City: Gerard Doherty, Jack Doyle (Nathan Boyle 62), Eoin Toal, Gavin Peers, Darren Cole, Nicky Low, Rory Hale (Jamie McDonagh 54), Aaron McEneff, Ronan Curtis (John Cofie 77), Ben Doherty, Ronan Hale.

Subs Not Used: Eric Grimes, Conor McDermott, Rory Patterson, Niall Logue.

Booked: Jack Doyle (27) 

Shelbourne: Lee Steacy, Reece McEnteer, Dave Mulcahy, David O’Sullivan, James O’Brien, Cian Kavanagh, James Woods, Gavin Boyne (James English 53), Jamie Doyle, Derek Prendergast, Shane Farrell (Adam Evans 60). 

Subs Not Used: Dean Delaney, James Brown, Mark Hughes, Alan Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald. 

Booked: Dave Mulcahy (53), Cian Kavanagh (62)

Referee: Damian McGraith

Attendance: 1000 (Estimate)

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ronan Curtis (Derry City) 

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