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Derry City booed off after dull draw with Shelbourne

25 May 2026; Adam O'Reilly of Derry City after his side's draw in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Derry City and Shelbourne at Find Insurance Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Derry drew for the 10th time this season

Derry City's terrible form continued as they drew for the 10th time this season as European hopefuls Shelbourne picked up a point at the Find Insurance Celtic Park.

Derry were again shocking in the attacking third and the encounter overall was flat, which in the end meant the home support rightfully booed their team at the final whistle.

Despite having back to back clean-sheets, Tiernan Lynch's side were disappointing throughout and in truth are looking over the shoulder at second bottom Sligo Rovers, as the Bit O'Red know if they win their game in hand, they'll move onto the same points as the Candystripes.

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Both teams struggled on the poor Celtic Park surface, but Derry being the home team, have to do more in games.

A long ball over the City back-line released Sean Boyd on 10 minutes and with goalkeeper Eddie Beach racing off his line, the big striker got a touch but the effort was well off target.

Soon after a JJ Lunney free-kick from the right was floated to the back post to find an unmarked Zeno Ibsen Rossi, but his header from close range didn't trouble Beach.

On 30 minutes a lovely free-kick from Adam O'Reilly from the edge of the Shels box was straight at Wessel Speel, who easily saved the effort.

The home side made a change at the break with Dipo Akinyemi replacing James Clarke.

Derry missed a glorious chance on 48 minutes as Kevin Dos Santos showed nice skill on the edge of the box before feeding James Olayinka, but with only Speel to beat, the midfielder blasted well off target.

25 May 2026; James McClean of Derry City after his side's draw in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Shelbourne at Find Insurance Celtic Park in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Tiernan Lynch made another change just after the hour mark with James McClean (above) coming of the bench to replace Ben Doherty.

McClean's left-wing centre found his younger brother Patrick at the back post but his header was well off target.

A tremendous corner by McClean into the six yard box found his younger brother Patrick again, but the centre-back's close-range header flew over the bar.


Derry City: Eddie Beach, Barry Cotter, Conor Barr, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming; Cameron Dummigan (Henry Rylah 71), James Olayinka, Adam O'Reilly; Kevin Dos Santos, James Clarke (Dipo Akinyemi HT), Ben Doherty (James McClean 67).

Shelbourne: Wessel Speel, Sean Gannon, Zno Ibsen Rossi, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Evan Caffrey (Ellis Chapman 87); JJ Lunney, Harry Wood (Ali Coote 87), John Martin (Ademipo Odubeko 59), Daniel Kelly; Sean Boyd (Rodrigo Freitas 59).

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway).

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