NATIONAL LEAGUE / Derry City 2 - 0 Shelbourne: Derry City could have blown the race for the Premier Division title wide open following this deserved victory at the Brandywell last night. And having ended Shelbourne's 10-match unbeaten record, Derry move into mid-table.

Liam Buckley's Shamrock Rovers have a superb chance of closing the gap at the top to one point should they defeat St Patrick's Athletic tonight.

Both goals, scored within a three-minute spell in the second half, were deserved as Derry owned the ball for long spells.

Shelbourne came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 45th minute when Jason Byrne smashed a shot off the Derry crossbar. In the 23nd minute Derry's Gary Beckett did well to set Ciarán Martyn up but his tame effort was well gathered by Steve Williams.

The home side were first out of the blocks in the second half when Martyn burst through but Jim Crawford did well to get a block on the shot. Derry's efforts were rewarded in the 67th minute when Paddy McLaughlin robbed Jason Bryne and the defender's cross found Gareth McGlynn who curled the ball home from the edge of the area. And in the 70th minute Beckett played Martyn in and he guided the ball home from eight yards.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, McLaughlin, Clery, Hargan; McGlynn, Martyn, Hutton, Friars; Beckett, Moran. Subs: McChrystal for Clery (35 mins); McCready for Friars (88 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, T McCarthy, Rogers, Crawley; R Baker, Crawford, S Byrne, Cahill; J Byrne, G McCarthy. Subs: Moran for S. Byrne (72 mins); D. Baker for Cahill (74 mins); Hoolahan for T McCarthy (82 mins).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).

FIRST DIVISION: Limerick FC 2 (Cooney 8, McCarthy 66 (pen), Kildare County 1 (B. O'Connor 15). Monaghan Utd 3, Athlone Town 0