Derry City denied top spot by 90th minute equaliser at the Brandywell
Sean Boyd goal cancels out Paul McMullan's first goal for Derry City
Derry City 1
Shelbourne 1
Derry City were denied top spot in the Premier Division thanks to a 90th minute equaliser from Shelbourne’s Sean Boyd at the Brandywell, which also ensured a fifth successive draw between the two teams.
The Candystripes looked set to go top thanks to Paul McMullan’s first goal for the club, but Boyd struck late to ensure a fifth successive draw between the sides.
Derry had a sight of goal early on, when Pat Hoban’s chipped pass found Ben Doherty in behind, but Conor Kearns was off his line quickly to get a hand to the ball to take it off Doherty’s toe.
There was nothing the Shelbourne goalkeeper could do five minutes later when he was beaten by an incredible effort from Paul McMullan. A City corner was headed clear, but only to McMullan 20 yards from goal, who volleyed the ball first time, only to be denied by the outside of the post.
The hosts were by far the most adventurous of the two teams, but another big chance came and went just past the half hour mark when Ben Doherty’s cross into a packed penalty area found Pat Hoban, but the striker somehow glanced a header wide from just six yards out when he looked certain to score.
The City fans were on their feet early in the second half thanks to an opportunistic finish from McMullan, as Gavin Molloy misplaced a pass to Johanthan Lunney, but instead found the Derry man, who swept the ball into the net with Kearns out of position to make it 1-0.
It was so nearly 2-0 on 71 minutes when Patching found space 25 yards from goal and picked out the run of O’Reilly, who went one on one with Kearns, but couldn’t beat the Shels goalkeeper, who parried the ball into the air before Hoban headed the rebound under pressure.
But Shels struck in the final minute to stay top of the table when Will Jarvis’ low cross saw Boyd get in front of Cameron McJannet to turn the ball into the net from close range.
Teams
Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Cameron McJannet, Ciaran Coll; Adam O’Reilly, Will Patching (Danny Mullen 93’), Paul McMullan; Daniel Kelly (Sadou Diallo 81’), Pat Hoban, Ben Doherty.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon (Shane Farrell 79’), Paddy Barrett, Gavin Molly, Kameron Ledwidge (Tyreke Wilson 68’), Jonathan Lunney; Mark Coyle (Dean Williams 85’), Liam Burt; Will Jarvis, John Martin (Matty Smith 45’), John O’Sullivan (Sean Boyd 68’).