Ryan Graydon celebrates scoring the goal which was Derry’s winner over Shels
And City look like the team to beat this year.
On a lousy evening in the capital, City minus a scatter of very good players, they were too strong for 10-man Shelbourne, who were well in the game with 11.
Paddy Barrett’s sending-off spoiled the narrative for the neutrals watching on TV; they had been greeted to a cracking first half in which Ryan Graydon’s 11th-minute goal separated these sides.
The backdrop to this game was the revelation that Alan Reynolds, so central to Derry’s success as Ruaidhri Higgins’ right-hand man, was set to return to Waterford to assist Keith Long, mainly for family reasons.
Stephen Kenny has had to change his Irish backroom staff many times, Higgins one of those who moved on, but the Derrry boss will be gutted to lose the vivacious Reynolds.
The pitch, Dublin having soaked up considerable rain today, was heavy, but sometimes that can make matters more entertaining.
On paper, this was going to be a game with few chances – but one could have resulted in a Derry goal within two minutes.
Jamie McGonigle’s clipped shot was cleared off the line by Barrett.
The brilliant Patrick McEleney – arguably the best player in the country at the moment – was upended by Barrett and Conor Kearns, perhaps conscious of the cameras, made a fine save from Will Patching; reprieve was brief. Graydon peeled off his marker in the box and poked home from close range from Patching’s delicious delivery.
Derry nearly doubled their lead soon afterwards as the pacy Ben Doherty ran the ball pretty much from halfway, Kearns making a fine stop with his right foot.
The pattern was similar to the Cup final in November: Derry dominance.
Shels would grow into it, and they did fashion a chance when Shane Farrell teed up Matty Smith at the edge of the box on 25 minutes; Smith, who left Derry after a short spell last season, mishit his volley.
Jack Moylan has exceptional technical quality and he created a sitter for substitute Cian Leavy just after the half-hour mark.
Moylan initially fooled the City defence with a gorgeous dummy; his shot was saved, only for Leavy to blast over from about seven yards.
The tackles were plenty, the crowd loving it, Ciaran Coll booked for a late one on Smith. Derry were briefly groggy.
Ollie O’Neill missed a glorious chance eight minutes before the break. Brian Maher, ever trying to get involved in the play, fed Graydon who flicked to Patching; the Englishman set up O’Neill, who blazed badly over.
Generally, Barrett had the better of regular interactions with Fulham loanee O’Neill in the first half, but the Waterford man lost the last one and was rightly booked – O’Neill would not be afraid to take him on again.
This was a throwback to winter football, not that the Derry fans at the uncovered Ballybough end were happy with aspects of that.
Barrett’s yellow proved costly as he saw another card five minutes in the second half.
His elbow seemed to connect with McGonigle and referee Paul McLaughlin had no doubts but that Barrett’s night was over.
Damien Duff had pulled skipper Luke Byrne ashore at the interval so now Shels looked nothing like the solid defensive side they have been this season.
Still, Shels did not give up. Duff was booked for protesting what should have been a blatant yellow card for Doherty, adding acid to the wound.
City sensed a second and Kearns, who had little enough to do, made a terrific save from the lively Doherty, McGonigle putting him in.
Just under the media seats sat Cameron Dummigan, Mark Connolly, Ciaron Harkin and Adam O’Reilly. Nor was Michael Duffy fit for Derry – so this win was hard-earned.
Towards the end, sheets of the wet stuff angled their way towards the away end, City fans singing in the rain on the apparent swansong for Alan Reynolds. His contribution at Brandywell will not be forgotten irrespective of what befalls Higgins’ improving side this year.
Substitute Kyle Robinson went over in the box and the home fans cried for a penalty, McLaughlin making a correct call in not giving one, and it was over within seconds.
Next up for Derry is a home league tie against Drogheda United on Good Friday, April 7 (kick off 7.45 pm).
Shelbourne: Kearns; Barrett, Byrne (Coyle 46), Griffin; JR Wilson (Leavy 24), Caffrey (Lunny 46), Molloy, T Wilson (Ledwidge 80); Farrell, Smith, Moylan (Robinson 79)
Derry City: Maher; Coll, S McEleney, McJannett, Doherty; Diallo (Boyce 80), P McEleney, Patching; O’Neill (McEneff 73), McGonigle (C Kavanagh 89), Graydon
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal).
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