Clinical Shelbourne put Galway United to the sword to stay top

Shelbourne stayed top, Derry City now looking the only real danger in the title race, even if they rode their luck a shade against ten-man Galway United.

John Martin's goal after careless Galway passing on 11 minutes put the visitors on the back foot and Martin again was key as Evan Caffrey doubled Damien Duff's side's advantage on 36 minutes – but the visitors missed a penalty that would have made the last 20 minutes or so really compelling.

That Francely Lomboto effort, saved by Conor Kearns, followed a controversial decision at the expense of the latter; truthfully, United were inferior from start to finish and would have been lucky to get anything out of the game.

It would have been revealing had Lomboto scored: how are Shels' nerves in the title race? Whatever, they looked like champions here – but Derry are closing in.

Mark Coyle (suspended) was a notable absentee in the engine room for Shels, who began life without Gavin Molloy, who left before the mid-season break for Aberdeen. Rob Slevin came in for Maurice Nugent for the visitors.

Shels won their first clash with United 1-0 here earlier this season – on a heavy surface, much different to the watered one here – but they were poor subsequently in Galway, suffering one of only three defeats in the league this term.

Liam Burt and Karl O'Sullivan both hooked efforts over early on in a lively first half. United came into this game with the league's best defensive record but they will be gutted with the nature of the opener.

Jeannot Esua played a sloppy pass back under some duress to Rob Slevin; three Shels players were ready to pounce like concealed crocodiles sensing prey at the edge of the water – and John Martin had a clear run at goal, Esua chasing vainly.

Martin scored