Derry City manager Stephen Kenny was again critical of the standard of refereeing after his side's dramatic 2-2 draw with Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday.

The Candystripes were exceptional in the first half, opening up a two-goal lead after 25 minutes.

However, the game turned on the dismissal of goalkeeper Pat Jennings just before half-time, the goalkeeper earning a red card for a foul on Jason Byrne despite suggestions that it was not a "last-man challenge".

Derry roared back to restore parity with 15 minutes left, and only a heroic rearguard action by the visitors secured a point. But Kenny believes his players deserved much more.

He told TG4: "I can't compliment my players highly enough, but we have to contend with certain decisions, but we've got on with it. We have to get over all these obstacles, it was the 40th minute of the second half - I counted - when we got our second free kick of the half.

"We scored five goals against Gretna in the Uefa Cup and they haven't been shown on Irish television. Would that have happened if it was a Dublin club? I don't think so.

"I think we're a bit isolated at times in Derry in the northwest, we have to fight for everything. But we showed what we were made of all last season and we're showing it again."