No gold medals at Tolka Park as Shels and Derry play out stalemate

Fortunately for the television cameras, their Duffer-cam provided the entertainment through his animated sideline mode. For some unknown reason, he had to be separated from Derry manager Ruaidhrí Higgins following the post-match handshake.

Mon, 05 Aug, 2024 - 21:59

John Fallon, Tolka Park

League of Ireland Premier Division: Shelbourne 0 Derry City 0

Anyone expecting gold medals to be dished out in the League of Ireland will have to wait until the winter.

Had Damien Duff’s Shelbourne beaten their nearest rivals to open up a six-point gap with 11 games left, then perhaps their place on the podium was assured.

A sixth straight draw against Derry City instead ensued and naggingly this was the third in which they failed to capitalise on their opponents having a player sent off.

Derry enjoyed the better of the first-half chances but the momentum swung the way of the Reds once Sam Todd walked for a second booking after only 35 minutes.

It will only be on November 1, if they need something when travelling to the north-west for the last game, that a sense of regret will linger.

Derry’s preparation was inadvertently helped by their European exit, presenting a clear 15-day run-in to the fixture.

This fixture was also priortitised by Shels once their Conference League journey was crushed in the first leg against Zurich. Managing loads kicked in since, evidenced by only five of those who began the second leg last Thursday featuring from the off here. Just one of the outfielders – Kameron Ledwidge – played the 90 minutes of the stalemate.

Shels were the sprightlier, much to the eventual cost of Derry. The decision of Shamrock Rovers to loan Liam Burt was a strange one due to the damage he’s caused their title defence and he was too hot for Todd to handle.

Barely 10 minutes had elapsed when the winger drew a late foul by nipping past the centre-back. A similar incident 10 minutes before the interval changed the complexion of the contest.

It mightn’t have mattered if Michael Duffy’s ruthless streak didn’t elude him.

One of the league’s most potent flankers should have grabbed his sixth goal of the season on 15 minutes, volleying straight at Conor Kearns after a succession of flick-ons from Will Patching’s free-kick delivery landed on his right boot eight yards out.

He could be forgiven for spurning a more difficult chance four minutes later, unable to wrap his foot around the ball to keep it on target when Sam Bone forced him wide.

Quarrels trumped quality for the middle part of the half, as the familiarity triggered fouls that punctuated any flow. Ciarán Coll followed Todd into the book on the half hour and Damien McGraith was given a decision to make three minutes later.

A dummy by Burt on the centre-circle enticed Todd to halt his turn. Doing so right in the referee’s vicinity made his dismissal a formality.

Profiting from that blemish was the trick Shels had to master and they wasted an opportunity four minutes short of the interval.

Derry’s defence was floundering from Harry Wood’s free-kick into the box but Mark Doyle couldn’t apply a proper connection on the free header. Worse still, John Martin was craning his neck behind him, ready to test Brian Maher.

That didn’t occur until the hour mark. Wood was brought back to Tolka Park from Hull City in the recent window on a long-term deal, fresh from his match-winning displays last season. He was close to delivering that here, barging into the box and whistling a low shot that Maher pushed away.

It wasn’t put to safety, for from the recycled cross, substitute Matty Smith nodded over from close range.

His fellow Scot Ali Coote was also sprung into action and with his first contribution drilled in a right-wing cross that clipped the toe of Doherty, squirting a yard beyond the far post.

Higgins also attempted to inject some tempo into his attack, with Daniel Kelly offering a different dimension to Paul McMullan but their top scorer Pat Hoban was starved of service on a night their gameplan downgraded to consolidation with two thirds remaining.

SHELBOURNE: C Kearns; S Gannon, S Bone, S Griffin, K Ledwidge; JJ Lunney, M Coyle (E Caffrey HT), H Wood (A Coote 73); L Burt (R Tulloch 73), J Martin (M Smith 56), W Jarvis.

DERRY CITY: B Maher; C Coll, M Connolly, S Todd, B Doherty; C Dummigan, W Patching; P McMullan (D Kelly 65), A O’Reilly, M Duffy (D Mullen 78); P Hoban (S Diallo 90).

Referee: Damien McGraith (Mayo)