An early Ryan Graydon set piece goal set Derry City on a winning path over Shelbourne in Tolka Park this evening in an entertaining repeat of last season’s FAI Cup Final in which both sides had plenty of chances to find the back of the net as the Candystripes move to the top of the league.

The Derry winger had found himself unmarked at the back post at a corner to stroke the ball to the back of the net after just ten minutes which gave the visitors the win to bring back to the Walled City side.

Shelbourne were reduced to ten men early in the second half when Paddy Barrett saw red for a second clumsy challenge which didn’t seem to affect Shelbourne’s industry but the home side were unable to find the equalising score.

Conor Kearns had been the busier of the two goalkeepers in the early exchanges. He found himself exposed in the first two minutes when Jamie McGonigle rounded him only for Paddy Barrett to clear his effort with a sliding clearance at the near post.

Will Patching had the next opportunity with a 35 yard free kick which seemed destined for the top corner before the outstretched hand of Conor Kearns pushed it over the bar.

The resulting corner was whipped into the six yard box and Graydon found himself unmarked at the back post with just a deft touch required to guide the ball into the net with Kearns unable to block the effort.

Derry enjoyed the lion’s share of the chances in the first half first with Ben Doherty forcing a decent save from Kearns after a blistering run in the fifteenth minute. Shortly after the half hour mark Ollie O’Neill latched onto a through ball from Patching but the U21 International couldn’t keep his effort down, firing over Kearn’s crossbar..

Just before the break Jack Moylan broke through with a beautiful first touch guiding himself past the last defender to create a one on one opportunity with Brian Maher but his effort was stopped by the Under 21 International’s left foot. Evan Caffrey couldn’t keep his rebounded effort down with the goal at his mercy and the sides would be separated by the single goal at the break.

The second half would bring plenty more action and with two changes for the reds at the break with Mark Coyle and JJ Lunney entering the action, it took just a few minutes for Paddy Barrett to see red for a second booking. The Shels defender came together with Jamie McGonigle but it seemed a fairly poor decision from the match referee which made Shelbourne’s night a much harder task.

Mattie Smith had the next good opportunity just before the hour mark as he dispossessed Derry defender Shane McEleney but after a slalom run through a sea of defenders his effort didn’t really bother Maher in goal for Derry.

Tensions threatened to boil over when Mark Coyle was upended by Shane McEleney with no card for the Derry player and an outburst from the Shels bench saw Damien Duff receive a yellow card for the outburst.
Ben Doherty had the best opportunity to double the lead for the visitors as he got on the end of some great build up play from McGonigle with less than ten minutes left on the clock but Conor Kearns pulled off another excellent save as his strong left hand forced the ball the other side of the post.

Ten man Shels were reduced to some long range opportunistic efforts but didn’t really bother Maher’s clean sheet.

Derry move top of the table and while Ruaidhri Higgins will be happy with the result he has the not insignificant issue of replacing his assistant as Alan Reynolds appears to be joining the Keith Long revolution in Waterford.