Derry C 0 Shelbourne 1:DERRY CITY'S three-match winning run was brought to an end at the Brandywell last night, Shelbourne deservedly plundering maximum points to complete a league double over their hosts this season.

And it was a deserved win for Alan Mathews side who, following their hard-earned FAI Cup victory over Bray Wanderers on Monday night, showed plenty of appetite for the fray and attempted to win this game from the outset.

Striker Philly Hughes was in typically industrious mood and had put himself about giving the Derry City defence no shortage of problems.

But it was his astute gamble in the 70th minute which reaped handsome dividends for the visitors.

Having anticipated a Shane McEleney header back to keeper Ger Doherty, Hughes burst in, intercepted the pass and guided the ball home at the second attempt.

Shels almost opened the scoring in the first minute when Hughes fired just wide and Paddy Kavanagh spurned a couple of half-chances later on.

The home side rarely posed a threat during a very poor first half and Stephen McLaughlin was first to threaten for them when he went close following a Rory Patterson cross.

But Shelbourne substitute Anto Murphy’s superb strike from 25 yards showed the visitors’ intent and forced Doherty into a superb one-handed save in the 56th minute.

And two minutes later, the home goal keeper was again called upon to rescue his team-mates when he again burst to the fore when saving a David Cassidy snap-shot as the visitors continued to push forward.

But it was Hughes who had the final say when taking advantage of that defensive slip-up with 20 minutes remaining to send his side into the break well -placed in the Premier Division.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; Madden, S McEleney, McCallion (McDaid, 82 mins), McCaffrey; P McEleney, Higgins, Molloy, McLaughlin; Morrison, Patterson.

SHELBOURNE: Delany; Ryan, Shorthall, Paisley, Clancy; Cassidy, Dawson, Cronin (Murphy, 41 mins), Kavanagh (McGill, 86 mins); Hughes, Gorman (P Byrne, 81 mins).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).