There are just over twenty minutes to go until kick off in the first of today’s FAI Cup semi-finals.

Speaking to our own Niall Kelly ahead of the game, Derry boss Declan Devine talked about how keen he was to add to Derry’s cup legacy but knows his side faces a tough challenge today from a Shelbourne outfit keen to make amends for last year’s final heartbreak.

It promises to be a close game but I’d love to hear who you think will come out on top in the comments below.

I’ve just been handed the teamsheets for today’s first semi-final and the line-ups are as follows:

Derry City: Doherty, McCaffrey, Molloy, Greacen, McEleney, Deery, McDaid, McEleney, Patterson, McLaughlin, Madden

Shelbourne: Bennion, Boyle, Paisley, Cronin, Cassidy, Hughes, Dawson, Kavanagh, S Byrne, P Byrne, Ryan

This means that Barry Molloy has recovered from the hip problem that threatened his participation for Derry.

These two sides have met three times already this season with the Dublin outfit winning the first two.

However, the Candystripes walked away from Tolka Park with a 2-0 victory when the sides last played in August.

Rory Patterson’s return for Derry after being sidelined with injury is something of a gamble for Derry.

Speaking to RTE before the game, Derry boss Declan Devine justified his selection by saying he wanted to field his strongest team.

With eight goals in just seven appearances for Derry, it could well be a risk worth taking.

As the game kicks off, Twitter informs me that one of Ireland’s brightest young talents has returned to his old club to cheer on the home team:

The first effort of the game comes from Shels with a long range strike that the Derry goalkeeper Ger Doherty deals with easily.

It’s a beautiful day for football in Derry, almost perfect conditions.

GOAL: Shelbourne, Dave Cassidy, 5mins

The Derry City defence tie themselves up in knots and Dave Cassidy pounces to give the away team the lead after just five minutes.

Derry have their first corner after a spectacular strike by Patrick McEleney from fully 40 yards forced the Shels’ keeper into a spectacular save.

Unfortunately for the home team, they are unable to work anything from the set-piece.

Rory Patterson sends a 20-yard speculative effort high and wide of the Shelbourne goal.

After a long injury, perhaps Patterson just needs to shake off the rust.

Derry are definitely coming back into the game after suffering such an early set-back but they’ll need to work better openings and show a bit more patience.

At the other end, Kevin Dawson blazes a 30-yard effort well over the bar.

Stephen Paisley upends Rory Patterson down the Derry right wing and receives a long lecture from the referee but escapes the game’s first booking.

Stephen McLaughlin’s delivery drifts harmlessly wide though.

The gamble with Rory Patterson looks like it won’t pay off for the Candystripes as the Northern Ireland international is limping noticeably now.

How long more the Derry management give him remains to be seen.

Dave Cassidy looks to add to his and Shelbourne’s total with a 20-yard volley that goes harmlessly over.

The amount of time he had to take the shot will be of concern to Declan Devine though.

With 30 minutes gone, Shelbourne remain good value for their lead though their propensity to bypass their midfield with long balls doesn’t make for the most attractive football. Mind you, given the state of the Derry pitch, it would be difficult for any team to try and play it along the ground.

A free header for Glenn Cronin lands safely in the arms of Ger Doherty from a Shelbourne corner.

Harsh? A little, but it does feel like this game is going this way at times:

There’s not what you’d call a “cup atmosphere” at the Brandywell.

Indeed, at times you’d forget Derry are losing such is their lack of urgency.

Patrick Kavanagh did well to get in behind the Derry defence with just over two minutes left in the half to win a corner but Glenn Cronin’s tame effort form the edge of the area drifts wide of the left-hand post.

HALFTIME

I don’t know if Declan Devine has a hair-dryer but he’ll need to do something at the break as his side walks off to a chorus of boos from the home fans.

Taking a break from my half-time oranges, it’s worth pointing out to Derry City fans that their team is still in this, despite being below par in the first half.

Since the goal, Shels have been steady but not spectacular and, with a bit more patience in the build-up they could get back into this one.

Time for Mark Farren maybe?

David Cassidy’s goal has been the difference between the two sides so far.

©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The second half is under way and both managers have gone with the same 11 that started the game.

It’s a surprise to see Patterson back out there for Derry, he really hasn’t looked anything close to 100% but, on such decisions, cup semi-finals are decided and there’s still time for Declan Devine’s gamble to pay off.

The ball is in the net for Derry but the referee’s whistle had blown for a free kick to Shelbourne.

Shels’ ‘Keeper Chris Bennion jumped into the back to two Derry attackers and wins a free-out for it.

A lucky break for the Dubliners.

The red mist is descending for Rory Patterson and he picks up the game’s first yellow for lashing out at Shelbourne’s Glenn Cronin.

Alas, it’s about the most significant impact he’s had on the game so far.

David McDaid has Derry’s best chance of the second half but can’t shake off the attentions of three Shels’ defenders and his shot trickles into the waiting arms of a grateful Chris Bennion.

Derry have started the second half the stronger and, at least, look as if they realise this is a cup semi-final now.

GOAL: Derry, David McDaid, 58 mins

Davy McDaid makes it 1-1 as he gets on the end of a great ball by McCaffrey found the striker for his 15th goal of the season.

Derry have been much better in the second half and that pass by McCaffrey was by far the highlight of the game.

All to play for now.

Shelbourne make the game’s first change and it’s Philly for Philly as Gorman comes on for Hughes in a like-for-like swap.

The Derry fans are happier now:

With 70 minutes gone, it’s fair to say the quality of this game hasn’t improved but the intensity certainly has.

This feels like ‘proper’ cup semi-final now and Shelbourne will have to be careful not to this one pass them by.

They really haven’t go going in the second half and all the momentum is with the home side now.

Barry Mcnamee comes on to replace the hobbling Rory Patterson in a change that probably should have come 40 minutes ago.

There’s no denying Patterson’s a quality player when fit, but he clearly wasn’t 100% today.

Going back to his roots:

Image: RTE Screengrab

It should have been 2-1 to Derry but Patrick Kavanagh put in a wonderful block to deny the Candystripes.

Stuart Greachen picks up a yellow card for Derry,as does Shelbourne sub Brian Shorthall from the bench for ‘audible dissent’.

Shels goalscorer Dave Cassidy is replaced by Conan Byrne who won the cup back in 2009 with Sporting Fingal.

Chris Bennion makes a wonderful save from Simon Madden to deny the Derry defender

It’s all Derry now and, with ten minutes to go, can they grab a winner to stop this game going to replay?

Derry City’s all-time top scorer is on for Stephen McLaughlin. With five minutes left, can he find a winner?

The fourth official has shown five minutes of injury time to be played in the Brandywell.

Simon Madden picks up his side’s third yellow in the 91st minute and it looks like we’re headed for a replay.

And it’s all over at the Brandywell and these two sides will have to do it all again on Wednesday in Tolka Park.

It really was a game of two halves here with Shelbourne bossing the first and Derry being by far the more commanding in the second.

I’d imagine it will be Derry fans who’ll leave the more disappointed. Had they played with the urgency they showed in the second half, this game was there for the taking.