League of Ireland Premier Division: Derry City 1 (O’Reilly 40) Shelbourne 1 (Odubeko 54)
Mipo Odubeko spoiled Derry City’s 40th anniversary party as the striker poked home a second-half equaliser to earn Shelbourne a point at the Brandywell.
Derry City, who slipped back into third spot, were celebrating 40 years since their entry into the League of Ireland in 1985.
Adam O’Reilly had given the Foylesiders the perfect platform with a brilliantly executed lob over the head of 6ft 6in Dutch keeper Wessel Speel on 40 minutes - the–Corkman’s fourth goal in four matches.
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Brian Maher produced an superb save to deny Ali Coote an equaliser in first-half stoppage time before Sam Todd cleared off the line moments afterwards.
Derry had been the comeback kings of late having rescued seven points from losing positions in their last three matches but this time it was Shels who clawed their way back from a goal behind.
Ten minutes into the second half ex-West Ham striker Odubeko pounced to fire home the equalising goal after a lovely move involving Daniel Kelly and Kerr McInroy.
Derry remain unbeaten in their last five matches and kept alive their European ambitions but Bohemians leapfrogged Tiernan Lynch’s men into second place after a 2-1 win against Waterford at Dalymount. Shels remain seven points behind Derry in fourth place but the Drumcondra men have two games in hand.
City boss Lynch made just the one enforced change from last week’s thrilling 4-3 win against Bohs as Robbie Benson replaced the suspended Ronan Boyce.
It was 12 days since Shelbourne were last in action in a 1-0 victory over Galway and Joey O’Brien made two changes with ex-Derry City winger Daniel Kelly and Ali Coote coming in for John Martin and Evan Caffrey.
Derry came closest to opening the scoring on 25 minutes from a short corner. Duffy crossed invitingly towards the back post where Jamie Stott rose above his man but headed narrowly over the bar.
With five minutes to go before the half-time break Derry broke the deadlock when Akinyemi’s cross was deflected into the path of O’Reilly who nipped in front of Sam Bone and dinked the ball over the head of Speel and into the net. It was the first time in six league games Derry had opened the scoring.
Former Candystripe Kelly should have levelled the game less than four minutes later when Odubeko found him with a inch-perfect pass at the back post but the Dubliner fired high over the bar.
Ali Coote raced through on goal in first-half stoppage time but Maher advanced from his line and saved brilliantly with his outstretched leg. Coote latched on to the rebound but somehow Todd got back to make a stunning goal-saving tackle on the line.
The ball broke to Kelly but his shot from a tight angle was turned behind by the alert Maher who once again came to his side’s rescue.
There was concern for Derry just before referee Paul McLaughlin blew up for half-time as Akinyemi pulled up holding his thigh after chasing a long punt forward. The former Morecambe striker was replaced at half-time by Danny Mullen.
Derry were in control of the game for the opening 10 minutes of the second half until a free-flowing move from the visitors ended with the ball in the back of the net.
Kerr McInroy played a neat one-two inside the Derry penalty area with Kelly before his close-range strike was saved smartly by Maher. The loose ball fell kindly to Odubeko who reacted quickest to fire Shelbourne level on 55 minutes.
The former West Ham man did well to make space for a shot from the edge of the Derry penalty nine minutes later but dragged his effort harmlessly wide.
Stott stood tall to produce an important tackle to deny sub Sean Boyd a strike on goal as Shelbourne pressed for a winner during the five minutes of added on time.
Neither side could find a winner late on but both remain in the hunt for those precious European spots.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Archie Meekison scored the winner for Bohs in a 2-1 win over Waterford in Dalymount Park. Darragh Crowley scored a stoppage time equaliser for Cork against leaders Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross. St Pat’s European ambitions took a knock as they were held 1-1 at home to Galway while Sligo Rovers and Drogheda played out a 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds.
Derry City: Maher; Benson (Connolly 76), Bannon (Dummigan 76), Stott, Todd, Fleming; Winchester (Whyte 64), Diallo; O’Reilly, Duffy; Akinyemi (Mullen h-t).
Shelbourne: Speel; Norris, Barrett, Bone, Mbeng; Lunney (Henry-Francis 67), McIlroy (Coyle 85), Coote (Boyd 67); Wood, Odubeko (Martin 85), Kelly (Caffrey 75).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal).
