Second half goals from Shane Farrell and Brian McManus saw Shelbourne inflict a first defeat of the season on leaders Derry City.

The deadlock was broken after 31 minutes when James Akintunde did well to hold off his marker before shooting to the net

Shels were back on level terms in the 67th minute through Farrell and six minutes later McManus hit an excellent strike from distance to give them the lead. Aodh Dervin was sent off for Shels in stoppage time for a second yellow card.

Despite completely dominating proceedings Derry offered very little in way of a threat. Brandon Kavanagh hit a shot from distance in the third minute but it was straight at Shels keeper Brendan Clarke.

Shels did well to soak up the pressure but rarely got into the Derry half. Akintunde caused the visitors problems with two of their players receiving yellow cards for fouls on the lively forward.

City were patient in their play but didn’t create anything of note. The deadlock was eventually broken in the 31st minute; Will Patching played a lovely ball into Akintunde, he did well to hold off his marker to turn and shoot low into the net. Shelbourne were furious because they felt Akintunde handled the ball in the lead-up to the goal.

Cameron McJannett and Jamie McGonigle both had efforts before the break but they didn’t trouble Clarke.

The visitors were a different proposition after the break and started the second half well. Daniel Carr hit a low drive that just went inches wide in the 51st minute. .

Shels got their equaliser in the 67th minute; Kavanagh was dispossessed by Kameron Ledwidge and he played the ball into Farrell who found the bottom left hand corner of the net. Six minutes later and Shels took the lead through McManus who hit a fabulous strike from distance. That was after City had thought they had got their second but McJannett’s goal was ruled out for offside.

As the home side kept pressing for a second goal Clarke pulled off a fantastic save to deny McGonigle while Luke Byrne put in a well timed tackle on Patching minutes later. Dervin’s second yellow in stoppage time, the only disappointment for Damien Duff’s side