Damien Duff's Shelbourne grab dramatic late winner to seal first title in 18 years
DUFFER DELIGHT: Shelbourne manager Damien Duff and Sean Gannon after their side's victory. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Substitute Harry Wood clinched Shelbourne their first league title since 2006, tapping home the winner with six minutes left just as Shamrock Rovers appeared poised to steal their thunder.
Former loanee Wood was re-signed by Reds boss Damien Duff on a permanent deal in July and he delivered his first goal when following in Seán Boyd’s free that was parried by Brian Maher.
Shels needed to win after Rovers kept them honest by beating Waterford and as with all the challenges faced this year, Duffer’s crew prevailed.
It was the 11th time this season that Shels scored in the last 10 minutes of a game, highlighting their resilience. This one secured their first crown for 18 years.
Ruaidhrí Higgins knew Derry City’s only guaranteed route to Europe – a minimum expectation for Derry in the current budgetary era – was by winning Sunday week’s FAI Cup final against Drogheda United and that was reflected in his selection approach.
Everybody is aware of Pat Hoban’s ongoing hamstring troubles and while he’s been an unused substitute recently, the decision was made to cull the league’s joint-top scorer from the squad for the Blue Riband in mind.
Ditto another seasoned matchwinner, Patrick McEleney, as Higgins applied a risk-averse stance in his list of priorities.
It helps that he’s amassed such a squad of such depth. Season after season, as their 27-year title famine deepened and benefactor Philip O’Doherty craved the title, their budget increased, allowing them to compete with champions Shamrock Rovers for the best players.
How many of them will play another game at the Ryan McBride Brandywell is uncertain, for a coterie appears to be exploring new pastures after next week’s decider.
Maher has been a revelation since arriving three years ago and the goalkeeper is in demand with his contract lapsing. Adam O’Reilly is another with options closer to home, while some of their UK portion could choose elsewhere.
Considering results on the Bogside have been hard to come by since the summer and their latest league tilt hitting the buffers in the penultimate week, a degree of pride represented their prime motivation.
This was supposed to be the night they’d be facing off against Shelbourne in a first winner-takes-all but their perennial habit of passing up opportunities bedevilled them again.
Shels were subject to similar criticism as the wobbles seemed to engulf them as the games ran out by back-to-back victories in games they were expected to win – home fixtures against Waterford and Drogheda United – ensured the destiny of the title remained within their grasp.
That was Duff’s mantra since losing to Rovers but they hadn’t strung three successive leagues win on the spin since June.
They began with intent here, Liam Burt seeing his fourth minute deflected wide. Opportunities like a free-kick on the edge of the box were wasted but Burt seemed certain to score on 17 minutes when he latched onto Seán Boyd’s flick.
Cutting across former Liverpool defender Andrew Wisdom was the correct ploy but he couldn’t crown with a finish, dragging his shot past the far post.
Michael Duffy, at the other end, also twice went close midway through the half. His low drive went through the legs of Mark Coyle but couldn’t beat Conor Kearns, two minutes before he tried to find the top corner with a textbook curler that drifted wide.
Derry finished the half stronger, as Paul McMullan’s drive into the box fed Colm Whelan. Kearns got down to block the shot and Danny Mullen couldn’t turn the loose ball home from close-range.
It continued to be even after the break, Mullen’s header from a Ronan Boyce cross bouncing onto the crossbar.
Still, Shels remained dangerous, through the width of Burt and Ray Tulloch stretching Derry. Boyd brushed off Duncan Idehen to hare in on goal from Burt’s long clearance, only to be denied by the legs of Maher from an acute angle.
Ali Coote’s introduction offered another dimension to the attack and there were penalty claims with 15 minutes left when he hit the deck under the challenge of Mark Connolly. A decision would later go in their favour.
Sean Gannon – chasing a record 11th league medal of his career – was presented with a sight of goal but regretted opting for placement rather than power by gifting Maher a routine save.
Gradually, eventually, their patience was vindicated. When Paul McLaughlin whistled for a free on the edge of the penalty area, up stepped Boyd to unleash. His attempt took a deflection, forcing Maher to dive low but his spill allowed Wood to mop up with a first-time finish.
Seven minutes of stoppage time tested nerves and Wood could even afford to miss a sitter on the break deep in stoppage time.
B Maher; R Boyce, M Connolly, D Idehen (S McEleney 78), A Wisdom; S Diallo (J Davenport 74), A O’Reilly; P McMullan (S Robertson 74), C Whelan (W Patching 65), M Duffy; D Mullen.
C Kearns; S Gannon, P Barrett, K Ledwidge, T Wilson; M Coyle (E Caffrey 59), JJ Lunney; L Burt (A Coote 59), J Martin (S Griffin 88), R Tulloch (H Wood 74); S Boyd.
Paul McLaughlin (Donegal)
Rob Hennessey (Clare)
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