Candystripes dig deep to edge past spirited Shelbourne
Derry City, should 2023 end in their being crowned champions, will look back on nights like this as critical on a Candystripes journey that continues to captivate.
FULL MATCH DETAILS
There is a long way to go and Shamrock Rovers showed their intent up the M1 but Derry continue to look the team to beat this year. On a lousy evening in the capital, City minus a scatter of very good players, they were too strong for 10-man Shelbourne, who were well in the game with 11.
Paddy Barrett's sending-off spoiled the narrative for the neutrals watching on TV; they had been greeted to a cracking first half in which Ryan Graydon's 11th-minute goal separated these sides.
The backdrop to this game was the revelation that Alan Reynolds, so central to Derry's success as Ruaidhri Higgins' right-hand man, was set to return to Waterford to assist Keith Long, mainly for family reasons.
Stephen Kenny has had to change his Irish backroom staff many times, Higgins one of those who moved on, but the Derrry boss will be gutted to lose the vivacious Reynolds.
The pitch, Dublin having soaked up considerable rain today, was heavy, but sometimes that can make matters more entertaining. On paper, this was going to be a game with few chances – but one could have resulted in a Derry goal within two minutes. Jamie McGonigle's clipped shot was cleared off the line by Barrett.
The brilliant Patrick McEleney – arguably the best player in the country at the moment – was upended by Barrett and Conor Kearns, perhaps conscious of the cameras, made a fine save from Will Patching; reprieve was brief. Graydon peeled off his marker in the box and poked home from close range from Patching's delicious delivery.
Derry nearly doubled their lead soon afterwards as the pacy