Shels boss Damien Duff exults in 'amazing' point after sickness epidemic

Shelbourne and Derry City didn't provide a thrilling spectacle in Tolka Park this afternoon yet both managers sounded overjoyed with their team's performances, albeit for different reasons.

The game finished goalless with barely a clear-cut chance to include on the highlight reel, a result which nonetheless edged the hosts' lead at the top out to eight points after Sligo Rovers' loss in Inchicore.

Derry City boss Ruaidhri Higgins, meanwhile, was pleased with his side's response to their 1-0 home loss to Galway United last Friday night, after which the manager said it was the most disappointment he'd felt in his entire reign after a game at the Brandywell.

Damien Duff revealed that a vast swathe of his squad have been battling illness for the past day, spending much of it "on the toilet", as he told LOI TV afterwards.

Though opportunities were thin on the ground, Derry hogged the bulk of the possession and Higgins felt his side shaded it.

"Friday night was probably the most disappointed I've been as manager," the Derry manager told RTÉ Sport's John Kenny afterwards.

"Obviously the defeat away to Pat's last year but as home defeats go, Friday was the most gut-wrenching. There was a lack of anything about our performance.

"All we asked for here this evening was total commitment regardless of the result. I think we got that.

"Listen, it wasn't a game of many chances. But we think we controlled good spells of it and possibly shaded it.

"It's a much better performance in terms of commitment levels and what we expect from a Derry City player."

The draw essentially leaves Derry in a three-way tie for second spot with Sligo and Shamrock Rovers, the latter having notched their third win in a row this afternoon at Waterford.

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