Shelbourne - 1 Derry City - 0 For a while it looked as though it was going to be a repeat of last week's trip to Waterford where what passed for defending by Shelbourne's opponents had handed them a handsome victory.
Instead Pat Fenlon's side had to settle for the single goal winning margin with Jason Byrne securing the points after just four minutes. They must have been happy in the home side's dressing room afterwards, though, for while the rest of the team will know that they can play a good deal better they have six points from two games and last night's goalscorer is already shaping up as if he is going to contribute much to his new club's title challenge.
As they did against Longford a week ago Derry left a good deal to be desired in defence - the department that had contributed most to their cup win and premier division survival last season - and it was only their steady improvement at the back as the game wore on that prevented the hosts adding to the winning margin.
Since the defeat by Longford 18-year-old Mark McChrystal had been brought in from Wolves to strengthen Kevin Mahon's options at the back. However, the teenager's initial contribution was one he'll hope to forget soon. The big centre back intervened when Peter Hutton appeared to have things well under control and he knocked the ball into Jason Byrne's path after which the striker rather coolly slotted home.
The goal was well taken but Byrne's broader contribution was more impressive with the 24-year-old involved in almost every one of the home side's better attacking moves. There were signs too that he and Stephen Geoghegan are already striking up a strong rapport around the area and every indication that Byrne is as hungry to be at the centre of his side's approach work as he is to be providing the finish in front of goal.
None of City's attacking players came close to matching his impact and injuries to two of Derry's forwards helped ensure that they posed little threat up front.
Striving to be their most influential player was Hutton who divided his time between attempting to steady the midfield and, almost as often, marshal the defence but either task would have kept him busy on a full-time basis.
As Mahon was forced into one reshuffle after another Hutton ended up at right back where he settled for keeping Cahill very quiet.
Few of his team-mates were as successful, particularly early on when the Dubliners were allowed to play the ball very easily out of defence. Their superiority in the first half should really have yielded another goal but the closest they came to adding the second was when Ollie Cahill's low cross was met well by Geoghegan only for Andy Petterson to push the ball around the post.
As the game wore on Byrne went close with a volley and Jim Crawford struck a 25-yard shot that had the home support going for a moment before it sailed just the wrong side of the angle. In the end it didn't matter, the home side had done enough to maintain their status as the early pace setters.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary (Hoolahan, 77 mins), Doherty, Gannon, Crawley; R Baker, Morgan (Oakes, 64 mins), Crawford, Cahill; Geoghegan (McCarthy, 82 mins), Byrne.
DERRY CITY: Petterson; Doherty, McChrystal, Hargan; E McCallion, Deery, Hutton, Doherty, Moran; T McCallion (Friars, 21 mins), Coyle (McBride, 49 mins).
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork)
