A dispute over a clash of shirts and a change of kit overshadowed last night's Premier Division match at the Brandywell as relations between Derry and Shelbourne took a further turn for the worse. As a result, the match kicked off 35 minutes after its scheduled 7.45 start.
In the end, Shelbourne were forced to wear Derry's away strip, but only after much protest from the Dublin club's secretary Ollie Byrne. Earlier this season when Derry visited Tolka Park, Byrne fell out with Derry supporters in a row over a banner carried by visiting fans labelling former Derry and current Shelbourne player Peter Hutton a "Judas".
After last night's scoreless draw Derry manager Kevin Mahon lashed out at the Shelbourne secretary, who he blamed for the delay in the kick-off.
"It was a disgrace that while both teams were prepared to play after we offered Shelbourne one of our away kits, that Mr Byrne was allowed to interject and hold up proceedings," said Mahon. Referee Hugh Byrne had suggested that there was a clash of jerseys despite the fact that Shelbourne had arrived with a white jersey.
With the Brandywell housing its largest attendance of the season, Hutton received more than his fair share of abuse from the 4,500 supporters.
However, it was a particularly dull game, Shelbourne deploying a policy of containment.
Indeed the Dublin club had two great chances to steal the points, but both Jonathon Minnock, just before half-time, and Wesley Houlihan in the 90th minute failed to find the target.
DERRY: Payne; E McCallion, Hargan, Kelly, McLoughlin, Doherrty, Beckett, McGlynn, Coyle, T McCallion, Moran. Subs: Hughes for Moran (35 minjas0, Parkhouse for Coyle (88 mins),
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Minnock, McCarthy, Hutton, Gannon, Crawford, Fenlon, Doherty, Geoghegan, Houlihan. Sub: Crossley for Crawford (69 mins).
Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)