Derry City FC could not maintain top spot in the Premier Division on a disappointing night at the Brandywell.
The Candystripes have now won just four times from ten games at home this season, with their lack of a good striker up front finding them wanting.
Derry started the game in determined fashion and had a real opportunity just four minutes in. Jamie McGonigle rose high to flick on a pass from Brian Maher straight into the path of Michael Duffy.
The winger’s touch took him inside and he bore down on the Shelbourne goal before shooting just wide from 25 yards.
Shelbourne took four points from two visits to the Brandywell last season, and they were not just there to absorb Derry pressure, and gave the home fans a real fright on 11 minutes.
Shane Farrell’s ball from the right was intended for Kyle Robinson, but it bounced high over the striker and ran instead into the path of Jack Moylan, whose eyes lit up at what looked like a free shot on goal until Ronan Boyce arrived with a vital tackle to take the ball off his toe.
The visitors came even closer just minutes later when Farrell again sent an incisive ball forward, putting Robinson in on goal but the forward’s effort crashed back off the upright with Maher beaten.
The game exploded into life just after the half hour but it somehow remained scoreless after an incredible sequence of events.
After all their hard work, Shelbourne were undone by a simple ball over the top as Maher’s pass sent Duffy through on goal.
Duffy lobbed the advancing Conor Kearns and it looked a certain goal until JR Wilson somehow scooped the ball off the line to spectacularly save his team.
The danger wasn’t done however as Moylan then headed off the line to deny McGonigle from the resulting corner, before Mark Connolly fired an effort off the base of the post.
Within 60 seconds Shelbourne had a penalty at the other end as referee Rob Hennessey penalised Ciaran Coll for a challenge on Farrell.
Farrell himself took the responsibility from 12 yards, but his effort was saved by the trailing left foot of Maher, who was able to turn the ball over the bar for a corner amidst a deafening roar from the home supporters.
Brian Maher celebrates with teammates after saving Shane Farrell’s penalty
Derry City were straight onto the attack at the start of the second half and they could have shocked Shelbourne but Ben Doherty headed over from Duffy’s pinpoint cross.
Jamie McGonigle then had his head in his hands after Kearns pulled off a remarkable save to deny him a goal, the Shelbourne goalkeeper somehow palming away from the striker’s close range downward header from Boyce’s cross.
Shels soon hit back however and Moylan was able to pick out Wilson all too easily inside the Derry penalty area, but his shot was too close to Maher.
The visitors really should have taken the lead as the hour mark approached when Moylan sent a brilliant reverse pass in behind the Derry defence to put Robinson through on goal, but the finish was again lacking, with the striker shooting straight at Maher.
With 10-man Shamrock Rovers comfortably beating Dundalk at Tallaght, Derry needed a goal to avoid dropping into second place and it almost came from an unlikely source, with Ciaran Coll meeting Duffy’s free kick, but Kearns tipped the defender’s header over the bar.
Derry City: Maher, Coll, Doherty (Graydon 62’), Connolly, McJannet, Boyce, Dummigan P McEleney (McEneff 84’), O’Reilly (Patching 84’), Duffy, McGonigle (C Kavanagh 75’).
Shelbourne: Kearns, Wilson, Quinn, Griffin, Coyle (Lunney 81’), Wilson, Farrell (Hakiki 70’), Caffrey, Ledwidge, Moylan (Boyd 70’), Robinson (Smith 65’).
Referee: Rob Hennessey
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