Even a power cut can't stop Shels' electric start to new season

A half-time power cut at Tolka Park delay the restart of Shelbourne's clash with Derry. Luckily, an ESB employee was in attendance identify the problem and the on-call team arrived to rectify the situation.

Sean Boyd of Shelbourne celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Derry. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Shelbourne FC: 3 Derry City: 1 

Champions Shelbourne kicked off the defence of their League title with an electric first half showing against Derry City and, despite a blown fuse causing a blackout around the famous old ground and a lengthy half-time delay, continued their charge for three points late into the Friday night.

A Sean Boyd double, either side of Evan Caffrey’s sweet strike had the Reds in control at the break, despite a well constructed Michael Duffy equaliser early on.

A raucous and rammed Tolka Park, buoyed by an impressive 2-0 President's Cup win against FAI Cup winners Drogheda United seven days previous, created a hostile atmosphere to welcome the side who they dramatically overcame back on November 1st to lift their first league title in 18 years.

It was the hosts who signalled their intent right away with the mercurial Mipo Odubeko volleying twice in the opening five minutes straight at the grateful Brian Maher.

And despite it being Valentine’s day there was no love found on the pitch between two of the title favourites, perfectly encapsulated by Sean Gannon’s early challenge on Michael Duffy to maintain an early attack.

And their positive start was rewarded with just 11-minutes played when Harry Wood’s through ball was half cleared by Sam Todd, and fell kindly to Boyd who caught out Maher with a first time curled effort from at least 40-yards.

There was a slight aura of the unknown about the visitors, who went through changes on and off the pitch with Ruaidhri Higgins departing after three years, and being replaced by Tiernan Lynch - who left his post at Larne FC to take the reigns at the Candystripes.

A power cut at half-time delayed the restart of Shelbourne v Derry. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

And as is normally the case with a new manager, new faces arrive shortly after with Lynch busy during the offseason recruiting experience with impressive football C.V’s. One of whom, Dom Thomas, showed his quality just three minutes later delivering a devilishly deep cross to the back post to find Michael Duffy to head home from close range.

Before the smoke from the flares emanating from the away end had settled having got themselves level, the home side raced back into the lead. Conor Kearns' long ball was knocked down by Boyd following a tussle with Mark Connolly and on ran Caffrey, who swept home a beautiful finish from just outside the area.

The breathless first half drew to a close in dramatic fashion when the main protagonist Boyd was clumsily brought down by Sam Todd just inside the area, who bundled into the back of the big number nine.

Boyd dusted himself down and, despite a slip, got his second of the game as the full stretch Maher could only get his fingertips to the ball.

As if the relentless drama on the pitch wasn’t enough, a power outage at the ground greeted referee Rob Harvey’s half-time whistle, with question marks of the game's chances of continuing swirling around a dark and apprehensive Drumcondra.

Luckily for the sold out home support and 500-strong travelling support, an ESB employee was in situ to identify the problem and the on-call team arrived to rectify the problem with the restart commencing just after 21.30.

The extended break did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm as both sides continued in the same vein as the first half.

Chances continued at both ends and just before the hour mark Odubeko really should have put the game to bed with three great chances in quick succession. Firstly hitting the foot of the post having broken the offside trap before whipping a right-footed effort inches wide from inside the area. That was quickly followed by a thunderous left-footed strike from inside the area that flew just wide again.

A raft of changes from both sides ensued as the game entered the dying embers with both sides feeling the effects of an energy sapping evening, but it was the Champions who took a big three points for a dream start to the new season.

Shelbourne FC: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Sam Bone, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge; Harry Wood (Rayhaan Tulloch, 87’), Evan Caffrey (Ryan O’Kane, 87’), Mark Coyle, Kerr McInroy (JJ Lunney, 65’); Mipo Odubeko (John Martin, 87’), Sean Boyd (Ellis Chapman, 81’) 

Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, John O’Sullivan, Lewis Temple, James Roche 

Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Sam Todd, Shane Ferguson; Dominic Thomas (Paul McMullan, 78’), Adam O’Reilly, Carl Winchester (Sadou Diallo, 61’), Michael Duffy; Liam Boyce (Sean Patton, 69’), Pat Hoban (Gavin Whyte, 69’) 

Subs not used: Arlo Doherty, Ciaron Harkin, Hayden Cann, Glenn McCourt 

Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)