Derry City finally broke through a stubborn seven-game winless streak in the League of Ireland Premier Division, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Shelbourne. The win, just their third of the season, provided a crucial morale boost and lifted the Candystripes to fifth in the table.

The match saw Shelbourne's Barry Cotter open the scoring, only for John Martin to equalize for Derry. The decisive moment came from substitute Dipo Akinyemi, who scored with his first touch to snatch all three points and deliver Derry's first away win of the campaign.

Despite the relief of ending the difficult run, manager Tiernan Lynch is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. "I'm not going to get overly carried away with this," Lynch stated. "The big thing is what we do about it now. Three points doesn't mean a huge amount unless we go and build on this."

Lynch was quick to praise his squad's resilience during the tough stretch, highlighting their unwavering professionalism. "It would have been very easy for them to down tools or turn on each other, but they've been magnificent," he said, crediting the players for their hard work in training and belief in the process.

The focus now shifts immediately to a massive home fixture. Derry will welcome reigning champions Shamrock Rovers to Celtic Park—their temporary home while the Brandywell pitch is relaid—on Friday, April 23rd. For Lynch and his team, this win must be the catalyst for consistency, not just a one-off celebration.