Derry City FC v Shelbourne FC, League of Ireland
Premier Division Round 31, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 19th
September 2025, kick-off 7.45pm
The European race is heating up with every passing week in
the Premier Division, as Derry City host champions Shelbourne in the Brandywell
on Friday night. The Candystripes leapfrogged last week’s opponents Bohemians
into second place after a thrilling 4-3 victory in Dalymount. Unbeaten in
three, City could extend their seven point buffer on fourth place with victory
over Joey O’Brien’s side.
Derry City:
A huge match in the race for Europe, and something of a must
win for both sides, Derry City’s trip to Bohemians last Friday provided proper
entertainment. One of the most action packed games of the year saw ten man
Derry City beat Alan Reynolds’ side 4-3 and return to second place, opening up
a seven point gap to Shelbourne, St Pat’s and Drogheda United.
Undone by a very early penalty in Dalymount in June, it
seemed like a case of Groundhog Day for City last Friday, who found themselves
1-0 down after just nine minutes when Douglas James-Taylor converted a penalty
following a Carl Winchester foul in the box. The away team grew into the game,
levelling the scores via talisman Michael Duffy on twenty minutes when he fired
a low shot past Kacper Chorazka and into the corner.
Right on the stroke of half-time and Derry had found a goal
to go ahead. Adam O’Reilly poked the ball through the legs of Polish
shot-stopper Chorazka, who failed to claw the ball out after seeing it cross
the line. A scrappy goal, but they all count.
Jordan Flores, playing at left-back, tapped in a Ross
Tierney cross at the back post on the 65th minute to level the
scores. From there, all hell broke lose. An instant response from the
travelling side saw Adam O’Reilly fire the ball under Chorazka after a Carl Winchester
lay-off to make it 3-2 just two minutes later.
Just three minutes after O’Reilly completed his brace, the
home team found themselves level again when Douglas James-Taylor bagged his
second of the night. Another four minutes later, now on the 74th,
Dipo Akinyemi rose highest to nod a Michael Duffy cross past Chorazka to give
the travelling Citymen a fourth goal and a precious lead. Despite the dismissal
of Ronan Boyce on the 77th minute, which forced City to sit back and
absorb Bohs’ pressure, coupled with some Brian Maher wonder saves and ‘Jesus
Christ’s’ from the co-commentator, Derry held on for a huge three points.
Friday night’s result was vital for Derry City in the race
for Europe. Now two points ahead of Bohs and seven ahead of Shelbourne, St
Pat’s and Drogheda, we now have a much healthier looking buffer. Shelbourne
have two games in hand, while Pats and Drogs have one each. The outcomes of
this week’s tie with Shels and next week’s away game to Drogheda will have
serious consequences on the European race. Win those two and we *should* have a
top three finish all but wrapped up. Shels will have other ideas, travelling to
Drogheda on Monday evening after this one.
Three points aside, the positives on Friday night came in
the form of; an Adam O’Reilly brace – his first double for the club, a Michael Duffy goal and assist and Dipo Akinyemi’s third goal
for Derry and second against Bohemians. Versatile midfielder Cameron Dummigan
made his first appearance after thirteen months out through injury, and very
nearly found the net via an audacious attempt from the halfway line. His cover
in midfield and right back could be vital in the next six weeks.
Michael Duffy’s goal and assist were his ninth of each
category in the league this season. He’s now out on his own at the top of the
Premier Division’s assist charts and up to fourth in the scoring charts. Those
eighteen direct goal involvements are more than any other player in the league,
three above Pádraig Amond’s fifteen and Owen Elding’s thirteen. We’re lucky to
be watching a true Derry City legend at the peak of his powers. I hope Heimir
Hallgrimsson’s watching.
Despite seven goals and one of the most entertaining matches
of the season, referee Rob Hennessy managed to take centre stage on Friday. Of
the 42 matches involving Derry City that he’s refereed, we’ve won just 30.95% them
(13). In comparison, Shamrock Rovers have won 72.5% of the 51 games he’s
refereed them (37). You could make the argument that this because Rovers are a
better team and win more than us, but when you consider that we’re currently
second and have finished second in two of the last three seasons, something
doesn’t add up.
Last Friday, Hennessy dished out seven cards. None were
given to Bohemians, despite them committing more fouls than Derry (15 compared
to 13). That’s six yellow cards and a red card handed out to Derry City
players, made worse when considering that Ronan Boyce got the ball in the
tackle for which he received his marching orders. Hennessy’s eight dismissals
given against Derry City are five more than Shamrock Rovers, and four more than
Bohs and St. Pat’s. I haven’t even mentioned the clear handball in the box by
Adam Morahan in the first half either…
Refereeing drama aside, Derry City welcome back Ben Doherty
on Friday night after missing last week through suspension. The number 14 may
struggle to cement that left back role though, as new signing Brandon Fleming
had yet another fantastic game at wing back against Bohemians. He’s been a
quality addition and is a player to really get fans of their seats. Jamie Stott
had his best game in a City jersey, as did Brian Maher, despite conceding
three. In his almost four seasons at the club, he was in inspired form and
really kept us in it at the end of the game. With six games left, now would be
the perfect time for Derry City to extend their three game unbeaten streak and
get another couple of massive wins.
Shelbourne:
This time last year, Derry City and Shelbourne were battling
it out at the top of the Premier Division table, both hoping for a long awaited
league title. Shelbourne would come out victorious, picking up their first
Premier Division crown since 2006 via a 1-0 in Derry on the final day. Fast
forward a year and 2025 has been a mixed bag in terms of Shelbourne’s fortunes.
Currently sitting fourth in the table, with a game in hand
on their fellow European hopefuls and two on Derry City, Shelbourne’s title
defence hasn’t gone exactly to plan. Dumped out of the FAI Cup by rivals St
Pat’s in the third round, it was on the European stage where Joey O’Brien’s
side earned its plaudits this year.
Former Premier League and Ireland fullback Joey O’Brien,
assistant to Damien Duff, took over as Shelbourne head coach on an interim
basis after Duff’s departure in late June before permanently getting the job in
July. With just three games under his belt as his side’s manager, Shelbourne
entered European qualification in the first round of the UEFA Champions League.
Shelbourne got the better of Belfast opposition Linfield,
beating them 2-1 on aggregate in an enticing all-island tie. Despite victory
over the NIFL champions, Shelbourne dropped down to UEFA Europa League
qualifying after losing 4-0 to Qarabag in the UCL’s second round. For
reference, the Azerbaijani side have made it the full way to the Champions
League proper and came back from 2-0 down away to Benfica to beat the
Portuguese giants 3-2 on Tuesday.
After losing to Rijeka in the Europa League third round,
Shelbourne again drew Linfield in the Conference League play-offs. An historic
tie which would see either side reach European group stages for the first time,
Shelbourne dominated their opponents, hammering David Healy’s side 5-1 on
aggregate. History was made in Windsor Park, as Shelbourne joined Shamrock
Rovers to ensure that two Irish sides had made it to the league phase of
European competition in the same season for the first time ever.
Winning, losing and drawing their last three in domestic
action, Shelbourne haven’t lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat at home to
Derry City at the end of June. Incidentally, that was Damien Duff’s last game.
With just one defeat in eight domestic games as Shelbourne manager, Joey
O’Brien will be desperate for his side to translate the momentum of their
Conference League qualification into their league form and kick on between now
and November.
Shelbourne recruited well over the summer. Twenty year old
former Cliftonville forward Sean Moore was brought in from West Ham, while the
signing of midfielder Jack Henry-Francis from Arsenal seems to be a real coup.
He shone on loan at Sligo Rovers in 2024 but is yet to make an appearance for
Shelbourne. French defender Milan Mbeng has impressed since arriving from
relegation-stricken Cork City, while
Dutch goalkeeper Wessel Speel has come in on loan from MLS side
Minnesota United to cover for the injured Conor Kearns.
Those are four signings who add quality to O’Brien’s team.
All 23 or younger, they’re wise acquisitions who could bring crucial energy to
a squad that is likely to rotate in the next few months. Harry Wood, signed
from Hull City last year after spending time at Shelbourne on loan in 2023, has
been their standout this season though. Scoring the goal that beat Derry City
and clinched the title last November, Wood scored home and away in the
Conference League play-off against Linfield, as well as assisting against
Rijeka. He has contributed to ten further goals in league and cup action this
year too.
Striker Mipo Odubeko has come into his own in Europe this
summer, scoring three and assisting a further goal in Shelbourne’s eight
European qualifiers. With six goals and three assists in the league, he adds to
the quality of Sean Boyd, John Martin and Sean Moore up top. Former Derry City
man Dan Kelly and Scotsman Ali Coote bring width to the attack too. Coote in
particular scored a wonderful goal to clinch the victory against Linfield in
Windsor Park.
In the middle of the park, Kerr McInroy has made the deep
midfield role his own since joining at the start of the year, while captain
Mark Coyle, JJ Lunney and Evan Caffrey bring experience and drive to the
midfield. Liverpool loanee James Norris has ousted Tyreke Wilson from his usual
left back position, while Milan Mbeng and Sean Gannon bring versality in that
they can operate at right back or centre back. Paddy Barrett, Sam Bone, Kameron
Ledwidge and Lewis Temple complete a solid defensive unit ahead of Wessel Speel
in goal. While not in the champions elect this year, Shelbourne have their
sights set on another crack at European qualifiers for 2026.
Round-up:
Harry Wood’s goal in the Brandywell last November clinched
the title for Shelbourne and condemned Derry City to a fourth placed finish
despite being part of a two horse race for most of the season. It was an
unceremonious end to the campaign. Fast forward eleven months and the
Candystripes seem to be hitting momentum at the right time.
On a three game unbeaten run, coming from behind to win
twice and draw once in the previous three, it’s paramount that Derry City lose
that habit of conceding first in matches. With Shelbourne’s two games in hand,
they’ll view this one as a vital game in reeling in Derry City and Bohemians in
the European places.
With Shelbourne factoring in eight more European games in
the next few months, coupled with a tough away trip to Drogheda on Monday, they’ll
be unlikely to take too many risks regarding injuries and may settle for a draw
if the game’s going that way. In fact, prior to this season, only two of the
eight league games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons between these two finished in
victories – a 1-0 each for City and Shels in March 2023 and November 2024.
This year has been quite the opposite, with two Derry City
wins and one Shelbourne victory in the three league games to date. There hasn’t
been a draw or stalemate in this fixture since August 2024. City’s 2-0 win over
Shels in the Brandywell in May was one of our most complete performances of the
season, while a Michael Duffy wondergoal claimed victory in Tolka in June.
Shelbourne ran out comfortable 3-1 winners at home on the first game of the season,
welcoming Tiernan Lynch to the League of Ireland in some fashion.
This game is the biggest of the year between these two, with
both sides knowing that defeat could take a heavy toll in the European race. City
and Shels are unbeaten in the last three in all competitions, so it’s anyone’s
guess as to the outcome. It’s the third last home game of the season and it’s
one where a noisy Brandywell will certainly be Derry City’s twelfth man.
Pól O’Hare – 17th September 2025
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