Derry City produced a dominating Sports Direct FAI Cup performance to deservedly see off league leaders Shelbourne at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
Goals from Michael Duffy and man of the match Daniel Mullen booked City’s semi-final place, and in truth, should have won by a bigger margin against Damien Duff’s side.
City made two changes to their starting line-up from the side which lost at Galway United a few weeks ago, with Ben Doherty replacing Shane McEleney while up top, Mullen came in for the out-of-form Pat Hoban.
As for Shels, they also made a double change to their team which drew at Bohemians last Friday, with Kameron Ledwidge and John O’Sullivan replacing Sean Gannon and Evan McCaffrey.
City created a super chance after two minutes as Paul McMullan’s defence-splitting pass found Will Patching, but after getting in behind the Shels defence, the midfielder blasted over from the edge of the box.
Derry again won possession high up the pitch, this time Mullen nipped in to clip the ball away from Shane Griffin to release McMullan, but the winger’s shot was saved by a diving Conor Kearns.
“He drags it onto this left and buries it into the bottom corner…”
Michael Duffy has given Derry City the lead at the Brandywell – and what a goal it was… Derry 1-0 Shels in their FAI Cup quarter-final.
📺 Watch live: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/R0IJmMHgP0— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 14, 2024
The home side deservedly took the lead on 23 minutes, following a fantastic passing move which was started with Adam O’Reilly finding Mullen. He cleverly dummied the ball into Patching’s path, the midfielder picked out Duffy and the left winger got half-a-yard inside the box before drilling the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner.
To their credit, the visitors should have done better moments later as Ali Coote’s low right-wing cross found Aiden O’Brien, but despite finding space inside the City box, the striker’s mishit shot was cleared.
Derry were inches away from doubling their lead on 39 minutes as McMullan’s clever pass found Mullen, who ghosted in behind the Shels back-line before rounding Kearns, but his goal-bound strike was cleared off the line by Griffin.
Ruaidhrí Higgins was forced into making a change a few minutes later as Ronan Boyce had to replace Doherty after the left-back seemed to pick up an injury in the opening 30 minutes.
Derry should have added a second on 57 minutes as Boyce’s right-wing cross found Mullen at the near post, but his diving header – which had Kearns beaten – flashed just wide.
Derry City have one foot in the FAI Cup semi-final. Danny Mullen has put them 2-0 up against Shels at the Brandywell.
📺 Watch live: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/zzacyoGtmZ— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 14, 2024
The Foylesiders did fire home their second goal just after the hour mark as Patching latched onto McMullan’s pass down the right before his low centre found Mullen, who gleefully made no mistake from close range.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Andre Wisdom, Mark Connolly, Ciaran Coll, Ben Doherty (Ronan Boyce 42); Sadou Diallo (Patrick McEleney 66), Adam O’Reilly, Will Patching (Jacob Davenport 86); Paul McMullan, Daniel Mullen (Pat Hoban 66), Michael Duffy.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Tyreke Wilson, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin (Rayhann Tulloch 61), Kameron Ledwidge; Ali Coote (Evan McCaffrey 73), Mark Coyle, John O’Sullivan (Liam Burt 73), Harry Wood (Sam Bone 61), Matty Smith (Sean Boyd 61); Aiden O’Brien.
Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin).
