Shelbourne battle back to the top

Shelbourne staged a remarkable comeback at the Brandywell on Saturday night to move one point clear in the table.

In what proved a thrilling game against Derry City, Dermot Keely's side were stunned when the home side raced into a 3-0 lead by the 20th minute but the Dubliners refused to panic and battled back to deservedly share the spoils.

And it was on that point that Keely concentrated his aftermatch interview claiming that he wasn't worried by Derry's whirlwind start to the game.

"To be honest, I wasn't worried when they raced into a three goal lead," he declared.

"I was very happy at the way we were playing, our standards were very high and, to be honest, the scoreline could so easily have read 3-3 by the 20th minute. Remember we hit the post twice," he added.

`If we defeat Rovers and Cork, then we will retain the title, it's as simple as that. The players knew that before we played Derry," Keely said.

Derry, never three goals better than Shelbourne during those early stages took their chances as Bohemians fans in Dublin began to celebrate. After just three minutes Shelbourne defender Mark Hutchinson was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area and Darren McCready crashed the ball home from the penalty spot giving Steve Williams no chance.

Nine minutes later, the Brandywell erupted again when Liam Coyle's incisive pass sent Republic of Ireland under-18 international, Gareth McGlynn clear and the 17-year-old Donegal striker guided the ball past the advancing Shelbourne keeper.

Coyle put Derry 3-0 ahead on the 20th minute with yet another of his super strikes. Following a McCready cross, the ball was headed out of the Shelbourne defence before Coyle controlled it on his chest and then left fly with a right foot volley which screamed into the top corner of the net from 18 yards.

But Shelbourne refused to panic and when Richie Foran took advantage of sloppy Derry defending in the 22nd minute, the attendance knew that this game was far from over.

After the break the visitors reduced to deficit to 3-2 in the 52nd minute. Dessie Baker brought the best out of Derry keeper, Russell Payne with a close range effort before skipper, Pat Scully, found the net with the rebound.

And as Shelbourne poured forward in great numbers, the intervention of substitute, Stephen Geoghegan, brought the sides level in the 68th minute.

Geoghegan, who entered the fray four minutes earlier, rose well to glance Pat Felon's swirling free-kick beyond the reach of Payne and equality was restored - Shelborne's comeback complete.

DERRY CITY: Payne; Harkin, Hutton, Kelly, McCallion; McGlynn, Doherty, McLaughlin, McCready; Coyle, Hargan. Subs: Quigley for Doherty (35 mins), Parkhouse for Coyle (68 mins), McCaul for Hargan (69 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, Hutchinson; R Baker, Fenlon, Doolin, Keddy; Foran, D Baker. Subs: Geoghegan for Keddy (64 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).