European ambitions solidified for ten-man Derry City tonight as they held Shelbourne to a scoreless stalemate despite Sadou Diallo’s early sending off at the Brandywell.

A point apiece suits Derry more as they look to seal a European berth, a place Shelbourne are frantically pressing in on themselves after a fine burst of end of season form, this result making it just one loss in eleven league games.

Last week’s costly scoreless stalemate away to Drogheda United dented Derry’s title ambitions but the Brandywell was still sold out on a rain sodden night as the hosts sought to throw a spanner in the works of Shelbourne’s chase for a European place.

Blustery conditions somewhat blunted both teams’ early attacking armoury from fully functioning, matchwinner against Dundalk, Will Jarvis, and home winger, Michael Duffy looking the most likely to conjure something up.

Twenty-five minutes in and a spark was lit as Derry midfielder, Sadou Diallo, was shown a straight red card for a badly mistimed tackle on Shane Farrell, having been put pressure by an askew pass out by home goalkeeper, Brian Maher, as the Candystripes were down to ten men with over an hour to play.

Jarvis hobbled off, replaced by Evan Caffrey, as the crowd voiced their pleasure at referee, Rob Hennessy’s decision, Shelbourne’s Mark Coyle bobbling an effort wide as they probed.

Adam O’Reilly’s tenacity in the tackle was crucial in Derry nullifying Shels, who dominating the ball with the extra player, were yet to meaningfully extend Maher.

Indeed, Jack Moylan’s spin and shot that whistled just past the post was as close as they came in the first half, the spirited hosts organised and resolute despite the loss of Diallo.

After the interval, Maher kept his side level with a sprawling save after Paddy Barrett blasted an effort in from outside the area, Shelbourne starting where they left off.

Just before the hour and away Coach, Damien Duff was left hopping in frustration from his dugout perch as he witnessed his side’s top scorer, Moylan miscue a header, badly, from close range after Farrell picked him out, fantastically.

Ruaidhri Higgins and Duff both made a double substitution to try and swing the match’s momentum their way, Farrell though, the next going close as Maher swatted his effort away.

Scrappiness and feistiness were two factors increasingly influencing proceedings, the on-loan Hull City u20s midfielder, Harry Wood, impressing as he ran possession for the visitors, despite their absence of penetration in the final attacking third.

Tensions simmered as time ticked away, Duff growing ever more animated as he urged his players forward against a Derry home team, backed to the rafters by the crowd, not giving an inch.

Cameron McJannet crucially blocked from Farrell, as Higgins’ troops managed four additional minutes to perfection, sealing a hard-fought point.

With league leaders, Shamrock Rovers, having their match postponed due to a waterlogged Tallaght, Derry, despite having played two games more, had an opportunity to, at least, apply maximum pressure on the Hoops knowing that a win would move them just one point behind Stephen Bradley’s history-chasers.

It is a week’s wait until both teams are next playing, Shelbourne welcoming bottom side UCD to Tolka Park whilst Derry trek down to Turner’s Cross to face a Cork City outfit fighting for their Premier Division lives, in survival mode (both 7:45pm Kos).