Peter Hutton's first goal of the season slowed down Shelbourne's charge to retain their title in a thrilling game at Tolka Park last night as both sides finished with 10 men.

It was Shelbourne's first defeat in eight games. They remain nine points ahead of Bohemians and Bray Wanderers in joint second place, but Bohemians have two games in hand.

An incredibly open game might have yielded six or seven goals inside the opening half hour. Derry ought to have drawn first blood in the opening minute, but Eamon Doherty, cleverly put in by Gary Beckett, blazed over the crossbar. Twelve minute later Derry goalkeeper Russell Payne made a superb stop to hold a Jim Crawford drive. Moments later Dessie Baker found himself in behind the Derry defence from a long Steve Williams free-kick, but Baker's cross from a tight angle was cleared.

The Shelbourne defence lived dangerously as chances from Shaun Gallagher and then Brendan Devlin were flagranty missed before Derry's enterprising start was rewarded with the game's only goal on 21 minutes.

Beckett, as he had done for Devlin's chance minutes earlier, picked out the run of Hutton down the inside right channel. And Hutton, resored to midfield from central defence, showed he hadn't lost his scoring touch. Just a minute earlier Richie Foran had headed over from an Owen Heary cross at the other end. But having taken the lead, Derry didn't sit back and twice Williams had to make smart saves from Beckett and then Shaun Gallagher before Shelbourne responded.

Darren Kelly's poor headed clearance from a James Keddy cross fell to Crawford who, off balance, shot over the bar. Foran's 39th minute effort then came back of the woodwork after Fenlon helped on a Dessie Baker cross.

After five minutes of the second half Shelbourne had a Pat Scully goal disallowed for offside as the champions laid siege to the Derry goal.

Foran and Fenlon then had efforts, the latter coming back off the crossbar, as the pressure on the Derry goal mounted.

But, despite the sending off of Doherty for a challenge on Fenlon on 72 minutes, Derry held out defiantly. Foran was then sent off for appearing to elbow Kelly in the face 10 minutes from time.

Moments ealier the Shelbourne striker's header was cleared off the line by Paul Hegarty. It wasn't to be their night.

Shelbourne: Williams; Heary, McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan; R Baker, Crawford, Fenlon, Keddy; Foran, D Baker. Subs: Sheridan for McCarthy (76 mins); Hutchison for Keddy (79 mins).

Derry City: Payne; McCallion, Harkin, Kelly, Hargan; Doherty, Hutton, Hegarty, Gallagher; Beckett, Devlin. Subs: McCaul for Beckett (54 mins), McCready for Gallagher (63 mins).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).