Byrne strikes late as Shels climb to second

Shelbourne 1 Derry City 0

A dramatic last minute winner by Ireland international striker Jason Byrne moved Shelbourne up to second place in the eircom League Premier Division with victory over Derry City at Tolka Park tonight.

Derry almost grabbed the lead on six minutes after some typical wing wizardry by Paddy McCourt on the right.

Strikers Gary Beckett and Kevin McHugh then combined brilliantly, only for McHugh’s parting effort to go inches wide of the upright.

Shelbourne, who introduced Cameroon international Joseph Ndo for injured striker Gary O’Neill at half time, showed more urgency early in the second half, with Stuart Byrne and Jason Byrne both just wide of the target.

But it was Derry who came closest to breaking the deadlock on 59 minutes when a fiercely-struck Beckett volley deflected off defender Sean Dillon for a corner, much to the relief of keeper Delaney.

Jason Byrne then went close for Shels following a corner on the left by Moore, only to be frustrated in his finishing effort by the attentions of Sean Hargan. Play was swinging from end to end with both sides desperately searching for the elusive winner.

Derry looked the more dangerous with Hargan and McHugh guilty of missing clear-cut openings. Then came that dramatic last-minute winner for Shelbourne, with Jason Byrne firing home at the far post after Ndo’s low cross from the right.