Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division: Shelbourne 0 Derry City 2
Third time lucky for City against Shels
By Daire Walsh
GOALS in either half from David McDaid and Stephen McLaughlin proved decisive in Tolka Park last night, as Derry City enjoyed victory over Shelbourne at the third time of asking this season.
Alan Mathews’ side had previously secured 1-0 wins over their northern counterparts, but there was only ever going to be one winner in this contest as Derry had a firm control of the game from an early stage.
A victory for the hosts would see them leap-frogging Derry in the table, and they started the game brightly with left-winger Barry Clancy heading just over with a close-range effort from an excellent cross by David Cassidy on the right.
This was a minor let-off for Derry, but they would reply in emphatic fashion, as McLaughlin was found in acres of space on the left-hand side of the visitors’ attack eight minutes in, and his point delivery was finished cooly to the bottom right-hand corner of the Shels goal by the ever-alert McDaid.
This was precisely the tonic that Declan Devine’s charges required at this early stage in the contest, and they started to assume control of the play as the half progressed as Shels struggled to regain the composure that they had shown in the tie’s opening moments.
The Brandywell outfit did continue to press for a second goal, and Ryan McBride forced a fine save from Shels netminder Dean Delany, before Clancy was once again wide of the mark with a header for
the Dubliners.
In the second period, Shels were showing signs that they could cause Derry problems if they could find enough inroads in the final-third, but their chances of getting something from the game were greatly diminished 10 minutes later when the Candystripes doubled their advantage.
Right-back Simon Madden was the instigator for the move, as his telling delivery from the right found its way towards McLaughlin on the far side and, although his strike into the ground looked like it wouldn’t have enough power to trouble the Shels goal, Delany couldn’t hold onto the shot as he spilled the ball into the left-hand corner of his goal.
Shels tried as best they could to force their way back into the proceedings, and the introduction of the Conan Byrne and Anto Murphy did provide fresh impetus for them, but Derry were worthy victors on a night when they recorded their eighth league triumph.
MATCH STATS
Shelbourne: Delany; Matthews (Paisley 32), Boyle, Shortall, Fitzgerald; Kavanagh (Murphy 66), Cronin, Dawson, Clancy (C Byrne 57); Cassidy; Hughes.
Derry City: Doherty; Madden, McBride, S McEleney, B McNamee; Brolly (Curran 81), Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin (P McEleney 58); McDaid, Murphy.
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).