ONE of those funny old games, though the Cup holders weren't exactly rolling around in stitches after being mugged on their own Brandywell patch. The scoreline didn't so much flatter a negative Shelbourne as embarrass them. Or if it didn't, it should have.

Three nil may give the appearance of a ruthlessly vengeful riposte for last year's unmemorable Cup final, but this was an even more forgettable bloodless coup. Despite seeming to regard crossing the half way line as an unnecessary flirtation with the enemy in the first half, Shelbourne won by virtue of rediscovering a bit of their old swagger in the second period.

However, even allowing for an own goal and a questionable penalty, that Shelbourne ultimately won with plenty to spare says everything about the way a young Derry caved in, and with it went their season.

Felix Healy had, it transpired, been privately bracing himself for this, and the onset of next season. "I'm not disappointed, because when you're the manager you've got to be realistic and know what you can achieve and what you can't achieve. On our day we're probably the best football team in the league and on our night we can destroy anybody. But week in, week out we don't have that consistency. We don't have that strength. But that's young fellas."

His counterpart, Damien Richardson was honest enough to admit his side were negative in the first half and flattered by the final outcome, attributing the contrast to his team playing first like three units and then, well, like a team. "That's going to be my gospel until the end of the season, we've got to play as a unit."

One fervently hopes that in curbing individualism Shelbourne don't sacrifice their footballing principles. However, in mitigation of Shelbourne's negative approach, their equilibrium must have been affected by the withdrawal of defensive lynchpin Mick Neville after a late fitness test on a knee injury. Apart from a few League Cup games, Neville has been ever present this season, and the game wasn't 16 seconds old before the untried Ray Duffy Henry McKop partnership was undermined.

Tom Mohan played a first time ball in behind the new pairing and, with Greg Costello a few yards back, both Derry strikers were clearly onside as Harry McCourt beat Gary Beckett to the ball. McCourt had ample time to steady himself as Alan Gough advanced, but he steered his low side footer just wide.

Shelbourne's defensive confidence was undermined, and they were unwilling to push men forward in support of Stephen Geoghegan, who was frequently outnumbered four to one.

Tony Sheridan sometimes loitered in an advanced midfield role, but John O'Rourke made few of his runs forward. Gary Howlett was stationed very deeply, and Brian Flood tracked Paul Doolin as Shelbourne resolutely kept at least five men in their own half. Not even the enforced 31st minute introduction of Mark Rutherford greatly added to Shelbourne's attacking intent, although that was to change utterly after the break; Robbie Devereux departing with a shoulder injury after earlier providing Shelbourne's one shot of the half.

The home team forced the pace, and had half a dozen corners without ever creating another clear opening in a stultifying first period. Gough (celebrating his 25th birthday) was, however, compelled into making saves by Gary Beckett's and Mark Feeney's long range drives either side of coming off his line to deny Tommy Dunne.

The only other highlights were a scampering run from deep by Derry's other full back Pascal Vaudequin and a touchline altercation between the Derry physio Joe Loughlin and the fourth official, Sean Brady. Referee Dennis McArdle kept a tight hold of a sometimes stormy game, however.

In fairness to Shelbourne, they did break out to a degree after the resumption, three corners in the first 15 minutes reflecting Damien Richardson's team talk. Passing the ball, and giving Stephen Geoghegan some support, they perceptibly took up the initiative. Tony Sheridan got goalside of Peter Hutton, only for Tony O'Dowd to partially deny him. Sheridan was then unable to steer the loose ball inside the post.

However, the crucial breakthrough for Shelbourne was fortunate in the extreme. Rutherford held the ball up well for the overlapping O'Rourke, who appeared to push the ball too far ahead, but O'Dowd's hesitancy enabled the Shelbourne midfielder to squeeze the ball toward the near post, where Hutton inadvertently deflected it over his line.

Rocked Derry all but stopped playing, and there wasn't time for Healy's three substitutions to have an effect before the visiting team extinguished the comeback after 82 minutes. A well rehearsed, superbly executed goal it was too.

From Costello's throw in, Sheridan's dummy opened up Derry's defence for Howlett to chest the ball down just inside the area and volley past O'Dowd on the run.

Derry, a sad, stunned sight to behold, were gone. Their sense of injustice and Vaudequin's - was complete when McArdle, 30 to 40 yards away, deemed the full back's sliding tackle after a 50 yard dash with Rutherford to be a foul, and Costello converted the penalty.

Vaudequin simmered until the final whistle, before engaging Rutherford in some post match difference of opinion. This led to both of them becoming entangled on the ground, before they were separated. McArdle will apparently report both.of them for violent conduct, though Rutherford says he will protest his innocence.

It really wasn't worth getting that excited about the game.