Derry City v
Shelbourne: Match Preview (1st November 2024)
Derry City FC v. Shelbourne FC, League of Ireland
Premier Division Round 36, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 1st
November 2024, kick-off 7.45pm
Last Friday night marked the end of Derry City’s title hopes
as the Candystripes fell to a 1-0 defeat away to St. Patrick’s Athletic. City’s
wait for a first league title since 1997 will continue for another year, whilst
Shamrock Rovers’ victory over Dundalk has seen the Candystripes slip to fourth
place in the table. Victory over Shelbourne on Friday night will hand Shamrock
Rovers a fifth title in a row, assuming they beat Waterford in Tallaght. A
positive result for Shelbourne will ensure their first title since 2006 – and
they’ll lift it in the Brandywell. Even if they lost, they’d still win the
league if Rovers don’t win against Waterford. For the City faithful, we’re
stuck between a rock and a hard place. For Ruaidhrí Higgins and his players,
they’ll want to spoil Shelbourne’s party and take some momentum going into next
Sunday’s cup final. It’s the end of another League of Ireland season, and the
27th without Derry City winning the biggest trophy in Irish football.
Last time out- St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Derry City:
Having to watch those highlights again was grim I must say,
but I’ll keep this recap short and (not really) sweet so you don’t have to
relive it again. Derry City lined out in Inchicore with a weakened starting
eleven, missing Cameron Dummigan, Ciarán Coll, Daniel Kelly, Ben Doherty and
Mark Connolly. Shane McEleney captained the side, whilst Duncan Idehen made his
first start for the club at left back. Patrick McEleney and Pat Hoban started
on the bench despite both being ruled out through injury earlier in the week. A
glancing Joe Redmond header eight minutes in was the first real attempt of the
game, whilst referee Rob Hennessy set an early precedent by booking Andre
Wisdom before the six minute mark. By the 36th minute, five players
had already been booked. Four for Derry (Wisdom, Boyce, Diallo for no apparent
reason and Idehen) and one for Jamie Lennon of St. Pat’s. Before the clock
struck forty, Derry City had the best opportunity of the game. After Danny
Mullen was pushed by Tom Grivosti, Derry’s Scottish striker took the free kick
quickly by sliding it through to Adam O’Reilly. O’Reilly rounded Joseph Anang
in the Pat’s goal, but his off-balanced effort didn’t have the required power
behind it to beat the onrushing defenders and was cleared by Anto Breslin. A
great opportunity for a man reportedly linked with joining Stephen Kenny’s side
in 2025. Five minutes later, and Pat’s
had opened the scoring. Anto Breslin’s shot from distance ricocheted into the
path of Aidan Keena who found himself onside and in the box with just Brian
Maher to aim at. His shot was saved brilliantly by Maher, but some pinballing
in the box and a poor clearance from Shane McEleney saw former Derry man
Brandon Kavanagh fire home. A great finish from a man who the club should never
really have let go. We got €25k for him, but it ultimately cost us a league
title.
As hoped, Derry started the second half on the front foot.
Replacing Ronan Boyce at half time, Collie Whelan found time and space outside
the Pat’s box and unleashed a dipping effort off the crossbar on the 56th
minute. Painfully close for the former UCD man. Less than ten minutes later and
City should have scored again. Paul McMullan’s low ball into the box wasn’t
dealt with by either Anang or Redmond and flicked up just inches behind Collie
Whelan who was storming into the area. Wisdom’s ball back in was palmed right
into the path of Michael Duffy who, with the net to aim at, fired right at
Anang in the Pat’s goal. Derry piling on the pressure but with those missed
chances, you just knew it wasn’t going to be our night.
Chris Forrester had the best chance in the remainder of the
second half, rouletting and feinting into the Derry box behind firing just wide
– if that went it would’ve been one of the goals of the season. The final
whistle blew, confirming Derry’s worst fears. In a race that was two horse
between Derry and Shelbourne all year, City could now finish fourth. Only
Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers can now win the league, with it looking like we
may need to win the cup to get European football in 2025. A bitter end to an
up-and-down campaign. It’s the hope that kills you folks, we’re City ‘til we
die and that’s why it hurts. Always next year, and the year after, and the year
after…
Derry City:
Ruaidhrí Higgins’ injury-hit Candystripes didn’t play badly
against Pat’s on Friday. They needed a win, but going to a Pat’s side who haven’t
lost in two months was always a tough ask. With Hennessy booking Wisdom within
six minutes, Derry City knew they’d be up against it from the start. That’s now
just one win for Derry in their last 28 matches refereed by Rob Hennessy.
Duncan Idehen did well at left back in the circumstances, it was his full City
debut in the biggest match of the season and he was playing out of position.
Andre Wisdom and Shane McEleney made an experienced centre back partnership.
Wisdom found joy with underlapping runs when going forward in the second half
and I didn’t think McEleney had a bad game despite his sliced clearance gifting
Pats the game’s only goal. Adam O’Reilly led the energy in the middle of the
pitch for City. He’s linked with a move to Inchicore at the end of the season,
but Derry holding onto him for another couple of years could be as big as any
new signing. The Pat’s defence scuppered Will Patching and Danny Mullen from
getting involved in the game whilst Michael Duffy was swarmed by two men at all
times – Stephen Kenny identifying his former winger as Derry’s primary threat. Colm
Whelan gave Derry City something else going forward and is a different player
now that he’s fit and firing again, he’s another man who we need to offer a new
contract to ASAP. As was the story in the past couple of weeks, it was vital
missed chances that eventually put an end to City’s title charge but, in all
honesty, we had probably lost any chance at winning the league with those two
draws in our games in hand. To think we would’ve been going into that Pats game
two points clear had Paul McMullan scored from six yards against Bohs and Sean
Robertson’s stoppage time effort against Sligo didn’t go over the crossbar. If
that penalty against Shamrock Rovers wasn’t given, we’d have been out well
before now.
Patrick McEleney, who had a plantar fascia injury that would
likely rule him out for the season, came off the bench on Friday night. Patrick
Hoban, despite being named on the bench in the last two games, doesn’t seem to
be fit enough to play in the last couple of games. Instead of risking him
further, I wouldn’t play him against Shelbourne either. City’s main signing
heading into the season will hopefully finish as the league’s top scorer with
14 goals as long as Pádraig Amond doesn’t score against Rovers on Friday and
Johnny Kenny doesn’t bag a brace against Waterford. Not a bad return for
Dundalk’s record goal-scorer, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Colm Whelan
start 2025 as our main striker if he stays on. Derry City will be trying to
stop Shelbourne from lifting the title in the Brandywell on Friday. A win for
City would see Rovers win the league as they’ll probably beat Waterford and,
after their storming win away to Larne in the UEFA Conference League, they’re
looking good for it at the minute. You’d hope for a good result to take into
the cup final as it’s always a good day out. It feels like no time since that
first game of the season against Drogheda United in the Brandywell though, that
was eight and a half worryingly quick months ago.
Friday’s game against Shelbourne could be the last time we
see some of the current squad play for Derry City in the Brandywell.
Transfermarkt say that Ruaidhrí Higgins’ contract is up at the end of the year
and the list of players out of contract at the end of this season doesn’t make
for good reading. I’ll list them for you here; Brian Maher, Ciarán Coll, Mark
Connolly, Shane McEleney, Patrick McEleney, Andre Wisdom, Adam O’Reilly, Will
Patching and Colm Whelan (Transfermarkt). I’m not going to name here who I’d
keep and who I’d let go, but you can decide for yourself from that list. There
are players there who have been crucial to our team since Higgins had his first
proper transfer window ahead of the 2022 season. At the same time, I think that
team does need some new blood in it across the field. Centre back and centre
midfield seem to be the two areas that I’d assume we’d freshen up on. We have a
high average age, so fresh, young talent will do us no harm. Securing European football before the cup
final will be the aim for the Candystripes on Friday night, a draw for Derry
would do that if Sligo Rovers beat St. Pat’s. This day three weeks ago we were
talking about going two points clear at the top with two home wins. Now,
there’s a fear that we could miss out on Europe. Two positive results for City
on Friday and next Sunday should hopefully have us entering 2025 looking
forward for a new season and with the buzz of a new stand behind the goal on
the Lone Moor Road end. Christ, what a year.
Players of the Year:
Nobody has asked for this part, but I’m doing it anyway. It’s
my very prestigious list of my top three Derry City players of 2024:
1.
Adam O’Reilly – The heart of City’s
midfield, Adam O’Reilly kept the Derry City side ticking in 2024. His energy,
close control and passion earned him the love of the City faithful. Rarely does
the 23 year old put a foot wrong and there aren’t many in the country who
compare to O’Reilly in that deeper midfield role. Coming to the end of his
second season at Derry, he’s established himself as a key player for the
Candystripes, who will surely be hoping to tie him down to a new contract at
the end of the season.
2.
Pat Hoban – Dundalk’s all-time record
goal-scorer joined Derry City for €25,000 ahead of the 2024 campaign as the
Candystripes’ marquee signing. A statement of intent from Ruaidhrí Higgins,
Hoban’s goalscoring threat gave Derry a focal point in attack that wasn’t
previously available. Physical, strong in the air and comfortable backing into
a defender, Hoban has hit the ground running at the Brandywell. With 14 goals
in the league, he’s on course to finish the season as the Premier Division top
scorer and would’ve likely scored more had he not missed five games through
injury. Hoban will be the first Derry City player since Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe in
2019 to claim the Premier Division golden boot if Pádraig Amond and Johnny
Kenny don’t bag a couple on Friday.
3.
Michael Duffy – One of the finest League
of Ireland wingers of his generation, Michael Duffy rejoined Derry City in 2022
after a successful spell at Dundalk. City’s number 7 is a joy to watch on his
day, cutting in from the left to whip shots towards the keeper’s far post, like
an inverted, Shantallow Arjen Robben. His haul of five goals and five assists
in the league isn’t bad at all, but he almost single-handedly took Derry City
to the FAI Cup final in 2024. He scored in City’s 3-0 win over St. Pat’s and 2-0
win over Shelbourne, as well as lighting up Dalymount with a brace in the
semi-final against Bohemians. His free kick against Bohs will be watched time
and time again, whilst the 30 year old will hope to drive his side to the FAI
Cup once again next week. His form has been recognised as he was named
alongside Pádraig Amond and Dylan Watts as candidates for the PFAI Men’s Player
of the Year award.
Shelbourne:
Just under two years ago, Derry City beat Shelbourne 4-0 in
the 2022 FAI Cup final. It was a record breaking cup final win, but despite the
scoreline, it marked a successful first season in senior management for Damien
Duff. The 100 time Ireland international and two time Premier League winner
inherited a Shelbourne side that had been promoted from the First Division and
guided them to league safety and a cup final in his first season. By the end of
2023, Shelbourne would finish fourth in the League of Ireland and see European
football in 2024 as a result of St. Pat’s’ cup final win. Now into the final
game of his third season at the helm, Duff’s Shelbourne would win the Premier
Division with victory in the Brandywell, or if Shamrock Rovers fail to beat
Waterford. Yes, the league’s been ‘poorer’ than previous seasons, and it was
Derry’s league to lose less than a month ago, but Shelbourne have spent the
vast majority of the past seven months at the summit of the table. In fact, if
Shamrock Rovers manage to win the league on Friday, it’ll be the first time all
season that they’ve been top of the pile.
Shelbourne’s defence has been their foundation over the past
few seasons. They currently have the best defensive record in the league,
conceding 27 in 35 games. That’s one fewer than Galway United on 28. In 2023,
only Derry City had a more resolute defence than Shels. Derry conceded 24 in 36
last year, whilst Shels let in just 27. Despite finishing fourth in 2023,
Shelbourne have actually scored less goals this year than last and sit on the
same points total as they finished last season with. They’ve struggled with
ruthlessness this term, but they’ve managed to find goals when it’s mattered,
winning 2-1 and 3-1 in their last two to keep their title push alive. That was
also coming off the back of a run which saw them win just one in twelve league
games and still remain top.
Key to that defensive solidity has been Paddy Barrett. He,
alongside midfielder and captain Mark Coyle, were named in the PFAI Team of the
Year this season. Barrett’s experience has seen him installed as a mainstay at
the back, alongside fellow veterans Sean Gannon and Shane Griffin. Mark Coyle is
a hard-hitting number six, whilst goalkeeper Conor Kearns has kept the second
most clean sheets in the league with 15, one behind Brendan Clarke of Galway
United. His average goals conceded per game stat of 0.8 is also a league best
and odes to the defence in front of him. Brian Maher, for comparison, isn’t far
behind – he’s kept 13 clean sheets and concedes 0.9 per game on average. Liam
Burt, on loan from Shamrock Rovers, provides Shelbourne width in the midfield
alongside fellow Scotsman Ali Coote. Rayhaan Tulloch and Matty Smith, returning
from a three game ban, are other wide options – both scored screamers against
St. Pat’s earlier in the month. Harry Wood returned in the centre of the pitch
from Hull City after a spell on loan at Shels in 2023, whilst JJ Lunney has
shown his quality in midfield throughout the campaign. Number 9 Sean Boyd’s
recent form has maintained Shelbourne’s status at the top. He’s climbing up the
goalscoring charts with 10 in the league and has scored three and assisted two
in his last five games. His 89th minute equaliser in the Brandywell
back in May ensured that City didn’t overtake Shelbourne at the summit after an
earlier Paul McMullan strike. He could be the main man for Shels on Friday.
Round-up:
A win on Friday for Shelbourne would secure their first
league title since 2006, when they beat Derry City to the crown on goal
difference. City will be hoping to spoil Shels’ party in the Brandywell this
week, but should they do so, they’ll hand Shamrock Rovers a historic fifth
title in a row. It’s a bit of a nightmare scenario in honesty if you’re a Derry
fan, especially knowing that it was in our own hands on so many occasions and
we failed to capitalise. Shelbourne have it in them to come back from a goal or
two down too, but haven’t won in the Brandywell since April 2022. Shels haven’t
beaten Derry City in any competition since that loss, with City winning four
and the other seven being draws. The past six league meetings between Derry
City and Shelbourne have seen the spoils shared, whilst City’s 2-0 FAI Cup
quarter final victory over Duff’s side in September is up there with Derry’s
best performances of the season. This one could really go either way and
there’s so much on the line. With four red cards coming from the previous seven
league encounters, there could be fireworks on Friday – and not just ones left
over from Halloween. It’s been a final few games from hell for Derry City in
2024, but Ruaidhrí Higgins will be hoping that his men can bow out of league
action with a positive result on Friday before a massive FAI Cup final tie with
Drogheda United next Sunday. Watching Shelbourne lift the title would be the
scariest thing we’d see this Halloween so, for once, I’m just about okay with
Shamrock Rovers winning the league. Again.
Pól O’Hare – 30th October 2024
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