Duffy does it again as Derry City defeat Shelbourne to move into fifth

Shelbourne 0, Derry City 1

Anyone with any new superlatives to adequately describe Michael Duffy's value to Derry City Football Club, please feel free to forward them to Mr. M Connolly, c/o The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

Not that the Candy Stripes interim-manager would need reminding!

After last week's FAI Cup quarter-final brace against Dundalk, Duffy kept the Brandywell club right in the mix for fourth spot - and the potential European qualification that could come with it - with an injury time winner that saw Derry leapfrog Shelbourne into fifth place. It also closed the gap on fourth placed Dundalk, who were held at home by Waterford, to four points with still six games to come.

And again, it was a second half attacking change by the Derry City boss which contributed hugely to what could prove a crucial three points. Last week, it was Kevin dos Santos and Liam Boyce coming off the the bench to make the difference; this week it was James Clarke, back after suspension and playing likely was anxious to make up for lost time.

With time all but up, Clarke, who replaced Darragh Burns just short of the hour mark at Tolka Park, went on a mazy run to engineer himself a bit of room on the left and who better to pick out but Duffy who fired home past his former team-mate, Eddie Beach, for his 13th goal of the season and a seventh in his last five games.

With no time to respond, Shelbourne's miserable league run continued but they do retain a game in hand over the Candy Stripes who moved one point clear of their hosts in an increasingly congested pack tucked on behind the top three.

Derry fielded the same starting 11 that began against Dundalk with Adam O'Reilly impressing in an opening half of few clear cut chances. Home centre-back Odhrán Casey had the best opportunity from an early corner but his couldn't direct what was a free header on target and Derry escaped.

Ellis Chapman and Tyler Smith saw efforts saved by Beach while Dummigan had to be alert to block James Norris' goalbound effort after Norcott had beaten out an Ali Coote shot.

Norris' eventful end to the opening half persisted when it was his loose back pass under pressure from Burns that put Smith clear on goal, but the striker's low shot was brilliantly saved by Beach to ensure it was deadlock at the beak.

Derry continued to create the better chances after the restart as O'Reilly went close while Kevin Dos Santos' introduction off the bench saw the Portuguese winger almost immediately set up James Clarke for a fierce effort Beach did well to save once more.

It looked like a winner wasn't going to come when another Derry City substitute, Liam Boyce, did superbly to make himself space but crashed his shot off the Shelbourne with 10 minutes left on the clock. It looked even less likely as the clock ticked into injury time but what do big players do? They deliver. And when Derry City needed their captain, Duffy answered the call, as he always does

Shelbourne: Eddie Beach; Milan Mbeng (Seán Gannon 83), Kamero Ledwidge, Odhrán Casey, James Norris; Evan Caffrey (Rodrigo Freitas 76), JJ Lunney (Jack Henry-Francis 57), Kerr McInroy, Ali Coote (Seán Moore 57); Mipo Odubeko (Seán Boyd 57), Daniel Kelly.

Derry City: Tom Norcott; Cameron Dummigan, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean; Brandon Fleming, Nick Twisk, Ellis Chapman (Kevin Dos Santos 72), Adam O’Reilly; Michael Duffy, Darragh Burns (James Clarke 59), Tyler Smith (Liam Boyce 59).

Referee: Damian McGrath