Graydon hits the winner as Derry City go back to the top of the Premier Division

Shelbourne 0

Derry City 1

Ryan Graydon hit the only goal of the game as Derry City returned to the top of the Premier Division with a third successive 1-0 win at Tolka Park. 

Graydon, who scored a late winner at Tolka last August, was the match winner again, but this time his goal came much earlier as the Candystripes started strongly ahead of a real battle in poor conditions in Dublin. 

Cameron McJannet made a welcome return to the City defence for the first time since picking up an injury at St. Patrick’s Athletic on the opening day of the season. However, Adam O’Reilly, Cameron Dummigan, Michael Duffy and Mark Connolly remained missing.

There was almost a sensational start for the Candystripes as they caught Shelbourne out with a route one approach just two minutes in. Brain Maher’s free kick saw Ryan Graydon win the ball in the air, flicking it all for Jamie McGonigle, who got in behind Luke Byrne and went around goalkeeper Conor Kearns, only for Paddy Barrett to stop his shot on the line.

Kearns then had to be alert to deny Will Patching a spectacular opener with the midfielder almost finding the top corner with a brilliant free kick from 25 yards.

A fine start from the Candystripes was rewarded from the resulting corner however with Patching’s delivery finding Ryan Graydon completely unmarked, and the winger side-footed home from close range to make it 1-0 on 11 minutes.

It could well have been 2-0 within minutes as Derry dominated Shelbourne, and Ben Doherty went on a superb individual run from halfway, only to be denied by Kearns who saved his team a second time.

It took half an hour for Shelbourne to respond and Derry were fortunate to stay ahead when they did. Jack Moylan got in behind the Derry defence, and dummied a shot to fool Shane McEleney to give himself a better opportunity on his left foot. He was denied by Brian Maher from close range, but still Shelbourne should have scored, with the rebound falling for Kian Leavy, only for the substitute to blaze over the bar from just six yards out.

The chances were coming at both ends as weather conditions continued to deteriorate and Derry City should have made it 2-0 when brilliant incisive play started with Graydon winning another ball in the air and ended with Patching slipping in Ollie O’Neill, but the midfielder blazed over with just Kearns to beat.

Shelbourne’s hopes of getting back into the game suffered a huge blow at the start of the second half when captain Paddy Barrett, already on a yellow card, was sent off after a challenge on Jamie McGonigle.  

There were few chances to talk about after that as Shelbourne dug in, but Derry should have made the game safe with seven minutes remaining when they managed a rare counter-attack against the ten men. McGonigle slipped Ben Doherty in on goal, but Kearns, not for the first time in the game, produced a brilliant save to keep Shelbourne in the game.

Teams

SHELBOURNE: Kearns, Wilson (Leavy 24’), Griffin, Moylan (Robinson 80’), Smith, Wilson (Ledwidge 80’), Farrell, Molloy, Byrne (Lunney 45’), Caffrey (Coyle 45’), Barrett.

DERRY CITY: Maher, Coll, McEleney, McJannet, Doherty, Diallo (Boyce 81’), McEleney, Patching, Graydon, O’Neill (McEneff 73’), McGonigle (C Kavanagh 90’).

REFEREE: Paul McLaughlin.