Derry shock for leaders - January 24, 2001
Shelbourne 0 Derry City 1
Derry's enforced winter break has left them hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone - but it paid off big-time last night as the refreshed Candystripes stormed Fortress Tolka.
Derry have still played a game fewer than most teams in the division, but this win gives them a seven-point margin over third-from-bottom UCD and a bit of breathing space. More importantly for the title race, it stopped Shels from opening a twelve-point gap and gives a glimmer of hope to the form teams like Bray Wanderers and St. Pat's.
There was just one goal on the night - but there were goal chances a-plenty, despite both teams losing their top scorers to red cards. Derry's Eamonn Doherty went after 72 minutes for a challenge on Pat Fenlon and Shels' Richie Foran followed eight minutes later for striking Darren Kelly.
But the night belonged to Peter Hutton. Revelling in his new midfield role, he was involved in everything good Derry did and, fittingly, he scored the winner on 21 minutes - his first goal in three seasons! Gary Beckett spotted Hutton's run down the right-hand channel and picked him out - and the veteran's finish matched the pass.
There could have been goals at both ends before then: Doherty blazed over in the opening minutes and Russell Payne made a great stop from Shelbourne's Jim Crawford before Shaun Gallagher and Brendan Devlin missed sitters for Derry. A minute before Hutton's goal, Richie Foran headed over from Owen Heary's cross. Six minutes before the break, Foran went even closer, testing the carpentry from Pat Fenlon's flick-on.
The chances continued after the break, Fenlon himself finding the crossbar and Pat Scully having a goal ruled out for offside.
Shels continued to pepper the Derry goal and Richie Foran had a header cleared off the line by Paul Hegarty on 79 minutes. A minute later, Foran's frustration boiled over and that effectively finished the champions' chances of equalising.
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan, R Baker, Crawford, Fenlon, Keddy, Foran, D Baker
Subs: Sheridan for McCarthy 76, Hutchison for Keddy 79
Sent off: Foran 80
Derry City: Payne, McCallion, Harkin, Kelly, Hargan, Doherty, Hutton, Hegarty, Gallagher, Beckett, Devlin
Subs: McCaul for Beckett 54, McCready for Gallagher 63
Goal: Hutton 21
Sent off: Doherty 72
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork)