Derry City ... 0 Shelbourne ... 1: Shelbourne served notice to Bohemians that the premier division championship has not been won following this deserved victory over Derry City at a breezy Brandywell last night.

And while the home side will now seriously consider the thoughts of being involved in a relegation play-off, Pat Fenlon's men did enough to win this tie in a dominant first half display.

But in what proved a pulsating finish, with Derry in the ascendancy, the visitors defended doggedly to deservedly hold out with Jim Gannon and Kevin Doherty outstanding in the heart of the Shelbourne defence.

The win, which reduces Bohemians lead to four points, will give Shelbourne great hope as they prepare for next Tuesday's game in hand against Longford in Dublin.

Indeed, a victory in that match could well fashion a title decider on Sunday week when the Tolka Park side entertain their bitter North Dublin rivals.

But last night the game was settled following a controversial, 33rd-minute goal.

Barry Prenderville delivered a cross into the danger area, and while the ball appeared to strike the arm of Shelbourne striker Mark Roberts, it broke perfectly into the path of Ollie Cahill and the Corkman drove it high into the net.

Indeed the visitors had chances to double their lead when, in the 45th minute, Derry youngster Gareth McGlynn whipped the ball off his goal line following a Jim Gannon shot.

With the breeze at their backs in the second half Derry began to make headway, but when they did penetrate the Shelbourne defence they found goalkeeper Steve Williams in superb form.

In fact the goalkeeper did well to deny a trio of shots on target from Tommy McCallion, Liam Coyle and Eddie McCallion before the final whistle brought to an end of what proved a pulsating finish.

DERRY CITY: Gough; Deery, E McCallion, McLaughlin, Hargan; T McCallion, Martyn, Hutton, Friars; Hughes, Coyle, Subs: McGlynn for Martyn 15 mins. Boyle for Hughes (52 mins)

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Prenderville, Gannon, Doherty, Crawley; Cahill, S Byrne, Crawford, Baker; Roberts, Holahan. Subs: Geoghegan and D Byrne for Roberts and S Byrne respectively (both 78 mins), Nesovic for Holohan (88 mins).

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin)

How they stand (P W D L F A P)

Bohemians 23 14 7 2 43 23 49

Shelbourne 23 14 3 6 40 22 45

Cork City 23 11 5 7 36 30 38

Shamrock Rvrs 23 10 5 8 35 25 35

St Patrick's Ath 23 7 7 9 26 31 28

Derry City 24 7 5 12 27 34 26

UCD 23 6 7 10 21 25 25

Longford Town 22 5 10 7 18 25 25

Drogheda Utd 23 7 4 12 24 38 25

Bray Wanderers 23 4 7 12 28 45 19