DERRY City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins was bitterly disappointed that Sean Boyd’s late equaliser denied his side a chance to move into top spot and kept Shelbourne in pole position.
The Brandywell men had enough chances to win Monday’s game and Paul McMullan’s first goal for the club had given them the lead, but Boyd’s 90th-minute strike denied Higgins his first win over Damien Duff at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.
“It’s obviously extremely disappointing to concede so late on,” he insisted.
“They didn’t really create bar Liam Burt’s chance in the second half, they didn’t really create anything else in the game, so if we’re being honest we should see the game out, but the players are giving absolutely everything at the minute.
“Because the boys are giving everything, I’m not going to sit here and criticise them, far from it.
“We had a long trip to Galway on Friday and we recovered over the weekend, but as I said the boys gave everything and just fell that wee bit short.”
The Limavady man conceded that the Dubliners possibly had more possession, but the home side failed to take the chances to kill the game off when clear-cut opportunities presented themselves.
“We would like more of the ball,” he added. “I felt Shels had a bit more possession than what I would have liked, but we remained in control out of possession and we looked a threat on the break.
“We had one or two opportunities to go 2-0 in front, which may have killed the game, but it wasn’t to be and we got punished at the end of the pitch late on.”
Boyd’s late goal was the Tolka Park men’s only shot on target throughout the 90 minutes and Higgins insisted those fine margins are what’s harming his side this year.
“Those fine margins and some details win you games of football,” he explained. “Especially at this level when it’s so competitive and those fine details make all the difference and win you matches.
“Look we just didn’t get that second goal and we’ve got punished with it at the other end, but as I said the players are giving everything, we’re having to play the same players giving absolutely everything in every game and we’ll keep going.”
Higgins was thrilled that McMullan opened his goalscoring account for the club in what was his 35th appearance and also by the Scottish winger’s overall performance.
“Paul has been great to be honest, especially as we’ve played him on the left, on the right and played him as a number 10 and he’s been very, very good in all those positions when called upon,” added the Derry boss.
“He’s had a number of assists since he has come to the club and he would be the first to admit that he would like to chip in with a couple of goals, so we’re delighted that he has got a big goal for us against Shelbourne and hopefully that gives him the confidence to kick-on.
“As I said he’s been great here from the minute he walked into the club and long may that continue.”
Meanwhile, St Patrick’s Athletic are looking for a gaffer after Jon Daly was relieved of his duties as first-team manager.
It’s thought that former Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny is the Saints number one target to replace Daly.
