Shelbourne hold firm to earn share of spoils

Setanta Cup Derry City 0; Shelbourne 0: Shelbourne fully deserved this share of the spoils at a bitterly cold Brandywell last night in a game boasting very few clear-cut scoring opportunities.

Shelbourne created the few chances in what proved a disappointing first half. The Dubliners were dangerous on the left flank with full-back Ollie Cahill combining well with winger Liam Kearney and both were involved in the first opening after two minutes. Kearney sent Cahill scampering up the flank and his cross saw Bobby Ryan direct his shot into the ground before the ball bounced over the crossbar.

And with Jason Byrne and Glen Crowe leading the Shelbourne front-line, the latter got onto the end of a Ryan cross from the right but failed to hit the target. In the 25th minute a fluent Derry move involving Eddie McCallion and Gareth McGlynn resulted in Ciarán Martyn sending the ball over the bar from 16 yards.

The players were greeted by a blizzard during the opening minutes of the second half as the home side began to get to grips with this affair, creating a superb chance in the 65th minute. Another well-worked move involving McCallion and O'Flynn saw the latter float a chip into the box but Martyn failed to get the necessary power into the effort.

Shelbourne lost the services of goalkeeper Dean Delaney, who was replaced by Steve Williams, Delaney appearing to have sustained a leg injury. But it was another substitute who forced the Derry goalkeeper into action in the 76th minute. Crowe broke, found Joseph Ndo, whose 25-yard shot was parried by Forde.

Minutes later Derry substitute Kevin McHugh had a low shot parried by Williams. Shelbourne almost stole the points when another Ndo shot struck the heel of Peter Hutton, the ball rebounding onto the upright in the 82nd minute. Deep into injury time Shelbourne's Colin Hawkins could have snatched victory with a header.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, Oman, Molloy, Martyn, McGlynn, O'Flynn (McHugh, 72 mins.), Farren, Brennan (Beckett, 40 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Delaney (Williams, 67 mins); Heary, Hawkins, Dillon, O'Halloran, Ryan, Crawford, Cahill, Byrne (Harris, 84 mins), Crowe, Kearney (Ndo, 67 mins).

Referee: M Ross (Carrickfergus).