Vital victory for Derry

Derry City finally removed the Indian sign which had been held over them by Shelbourne for almost three years when scoring a vital victory at the Brandywell yesterday.

The win sees Kevin Mahon's men move into joint fourth place with local rivals Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers.

Shelbourne, unbeaten in seven outings, had dumped Derry out of the FAI Cup at this venue two weeks ago, but yesterday Dermot Keely can have few complaints with the result.

Employing an uncharacteristic 4-3-4 formation, Derry got to grips early with the blustery, wet conditions. Michael McHugh was unfortunate to see his close range glancing header go wide of the target in the eighth minute, while Declan Geoghegan was forced to head Eddie McCallion's in-swinging corner off the goal-line with Alan Gough beaten eight minutes later.

But the visitors were always dangerous on the break and they could have taken the lead against the run of play in the 33rd minute when Stephen Geoghegan broke clear. However, the Shelbourne striker's shot failed to hit the target.

Playing against the breeze and rain in the second period, Derry grabbed the goal their play deserved in the 66th minute.

Darren McCaul sent McCallion scampering down the right flank and his teasing in-swinging cross was headed clear by a Shelbourne defender. However, as the ball appeared to hang in the wind, Gallagher controlled it with one foot and sweep it home with the other.

And McHugh could have doubled Derry's lead in the 75th minute following a determined Eamonn Doherty break on the left. Doherty's superb low cross, which dropped perfectly into McHugh's path, saw Gough produce a superb block to deny Derry a second goal.

Derry City: Platt; D Kelly, Hutton, Curran, McCallion; Hegarty, Doherty, Gallagher, McHugh, Coyle, McCaul. Subs: M Kelly for McHugh (89 mins).

Shelboune: Gough; Heary, Skully, McCarthy, D Geoghegan, D Baker, Fitzgerald, Doolin, O'Brien, S Geoghegan, Kelly. Subs: Benson for O'Brien (73 mins), Neville for D Geoghegan (82 mins, Byrne for Fitzgerald (83 mins).

Referee: R O'Hanlon (Waterford).