Derry remain on course for a domestic treble as they stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games, knocking rivals Shelbourne out of the FAI Carlsberg Cup for the third year running to make the quarter-finals, City winning 1-0 at Tolka Park this evening.
Shels started well with Stuart Byrne, Gary O'Neill and Ollie Cahill all having early chances, before indiscipline cost them the lead, and ultimately the match, on 19 minutes.
Byrne was booked for a silly trip on Ciaran Martyn and further punishment soon arrived.
Kevin Deery sent the free kick into the box and central defender Darren Kelly arrived to head home.
It got worse for Shels, once again missing their injured topscorer Jason Byrne, three minutes later when they lost their skipper Owen Heary with an ankle injury.
Shels huffed and puffed for much of the remainder of the game as Derry doggedly defended their lead.
Glen Crowe headed wide from Joseph Ndo's corner before Bobby Ryan fired off target.
It got no better for Pat Fenlon's side in the second half.
Byrne shot wide two minutes in before a fumble by Derry keeper David Forde from Sean Dillon's header needed a frantic clearance.
With Shels chasing the game, Derry almost snatched a second eight minutes from time, Delaney having to stretch to get to Mark Farren's header with Sean Holmes ballooning the rebound over the bar.
Shelbourne: Delaney; Heary (O’Halloran, 22), Hawkins, Dillon (Baker 82), Rogers; Ryan, S. Byrne, Ndo, Cahill; O’Neill (Crawford, 51), Crowe.
Derry City: Forde; McCallion, Oman, Kelly, Hargan; Deery, Molloy, Martyn, O’Flynn (Holmes, 64); Beckett (Farren 75), McHugh.
Referee: Alan Kelly (Cork).
