Shelbourne steel shows through

After all the talk midweek about two teams getting together to put on a show it seemed that nobody had persuaded the visitors…

After all the talk midweek about two teams getting together to put on a show it seemed that nobody had persuaded the visitors that, for once at least, a decent contest might count for more than the solitary point they were obviously so keen to bring back home with them.

With five across the back and next to no attempt being made than do anything more positive than hoof the ball in the general direction of Gary Beckett and Andy Moran, it was clear that the northerners were in town to strangle the game. Had Peter Hutton, their sweeper for the night, not been in such wretched form they might have pulled it off for the man-marking of Shelbourne's front two had pretty much the desired effect. In the end, however, moments of brilliance and madness from Gary Haylock and David Platt respectively sent them home empty handed and extended Shelbourne's unbeaten run in the league into double figures.

Of the club's strikers, Stephen Geoghegan posed the greater threat through the opening period but, suffering from an ankle injury that almost kept him out of the game and which ended up prompting his early replacement by Dessie Baker, the striker lacked the sort of pace and mobility that normally causes his markers so much anxiety.

In midfield, though, there was little or no contest with the Dubliners mopping up a steady supply of possession. During the opening stages, Paul Doolin's through balls twice went close to carving the City defence open while Richie Baker was a constant thorn in the visiting team's left side. The young winger's contribution might have been a great deal more significant had referee Aidan O'Regan protected him better from the ill-timed and generally reckless challenges of Sean Hargan. Despite his best efforts Hargan couldn't even get his name in the Corkman's book with the upshot that set pieces provided Baker's best opportunities to help set up an opener.

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When it came just before the break, though, his was a bit part. James Keddy took the short corner and then swung in the cross but City goalkeeper David Platt stole the show with a slapstick flap at the ball that left everybody startled except the lurking Pat Scully just wide of the far post.

The goal, while forgettable, at least held out the promise of a more entertaining encounter in the second period and within six minutes things were certainly looking up. With City starting to peek above their trenches, Owen Heary skipped through a bit of space down the right and cut the ball back low towards the edge of the six-yard box. Briefly, it seemed that Haylock has mistimed his run, but the former Linfield man turned neatly and conned Platt wonderfully with a backheel that left the goalkeeper no chance whatsoever.

It was Haylock's second goal for his new club since signing for Dermot Keely over the summer.

Shaken perhaps by the prospect of slipping further behind, City finally shifted forward. Darren McCaul was sent on up front for full-back Eddie McCallion and Moran had a brief spell in midfield before slipping back to the bench. Sadly it made little difference. That new hardness that Keely has been saying his team contains was in evidence through the remaining 20 minutes as the home side settled into a comfortable pattern of pushing the ball around but rarely killing themselves.

They hardly needed to as Derry showed no appetite whatsoever. After winning their first three games they looked, briefly, to be capable of being players in the title race itself. Last night such lofty thoughts seemed misplaced.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, D Geoghegan; R Baker, Doolin, Fenlon, Keddy; S Geoghegan, Haylock. Subs: Campbell for Doolin (57 mins), D Baker for S Geoghegan (62 mins), Byrne for Keddy (80 mins).

DERRY CITY: Platt; McCallion, Kelly, Hutton, Curran, Hargan; Doherty, Hegarty, Quigley; Beckett, Moran. Subs: McCaul for McCallion (61 mins), McIvor for Moran (70 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone

Emmet Malone is Work Correspondent at The Irish Times