Michael Duffy struck a dramatic late winner to edge Derry City to a 1-0 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

After a driving run from James Clarke, Duffy was on hand to side-foot home from inside the area in the third minute of added time.

The Candystripes would have been ahead sooner but for a series of outstanding saves from their former keeper Eddie Beach in the Shelbourne goal.

Beach twice denied Tyler Smith and also produced a superb stop to keep out Adam O'Reilly's effort, while Derry were then thwarted by the crossbar when substitute Liam Boyce's effort crashed off the woodwork.

With just their second away win of the campaign, the Foylesiders leapfrog Shels into 5th with six games remaining and are now just four points off Dundalk in fourth.

In the first half, Derry were creating the better chances but Beach was proving to be a thorn in their side.

The Welsh netminder, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Derry before returning to parent club Kilmarnock, produced a fine save inside the opening stages when Duffy's chipped cross was met by Smith, whose header was tipped over the bar.

On 26 minutes, Darragh Burns was presented with a golden chance to open the scoring after being teed up by Smith, but his effort was quickly charged down by James Norris.

Smith went close again eight minutes before the break when he cut inside the area on to his left foot, only for Beach to get down well and tip his shot around the post.

Derry continued to press after the restart and came within inches of breaking the deadlock on 55 minutes. A cross from the left was glanced on by Ellis Chapman and fell perfectly into O'Reilly's path, but from point-blank range he was denied by Beach, who reacted sharply to get down to his right and keep the effort out.

The home side gradually grew into the contest as the second half progressed, but while Shelbourne enjoyed more of the game, they struggled to turn the spell into clear-cut chances.

City remained the more threatening side and were unlucky not to find the net in the 80th minute when, substitute Boyce turned in the box and thumped a left-footed effort off the crossbar with Beach, for once, beaten.

Shelbourne then passed a huge chance of their own in the 85th minute when Sean Moore was left with a golden opportunity from six yards out, but he could only side-foot straight at Tom Norcott in the Derry goal.

Then with the game seemingly destined to end goalless, Duffy was the right man in the right place - as he so often is - to score his 10th league goal of the season and snatch the victory for Mark Connolly's side.

A third straight win away at the Reds for Derry and their first win on the road in the league since their 2-1 win at the same venue back in April.