Shelbourne picked up their first three points since late March after a fine performance against seventh-placed Cabinteely.
Coincidentally, those last three points were picked up in the reverse fixture against the visitors to Tolka Park. The win will also ease the pressure somewhat on Shels manager Kevin Doherty. He will be hoping that this victory will the put the life back into his squad as they try to move forward after a tough couple of weeks.
The first half started well for the home side. Shelbourne piled the pressure on the visitors from the off. Wingers, Gareth Coughlan and Dylan McGlade troubled the Cabinteely defence on numerous occasions, shifting sides and connecting with some lovely passes to Mark Sandford. The forward covered every blade of grass on the pitch in an effort to win the ball for his side.
The home side’s pressure paid off just before half time. Defender Adam O’Connor picked up the ball on the edge of the box. With plenty of time to shoot, O’Connor hit the ball with a soft touch of his right foot. His effort crept past Cabinteely keeper, Even Whelan and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
Cabinteely also had some chances to get into the game. However, they just couldn’t make their efforts work. John McKeown was allowed too much space in the box with the ball early on. Fortunately for Shels, the midfielder scuffed his effort and the home side were able to clear.
It was all Shelbourne in the second half. The home side had most of the possession and were constantly attacking their visitors, whenever the chance came begging.
They were unlucky not to add a second goal to their tally. Their best effort was a Conor Earley free-kick from the edge of the area. His effort went just over the crossbar. There was also a penalty shout in the dying moments of the game. Craig Walsh looked to be taken down in the box. However, the referee saw it differently and showed the midfielder a yellow card for a dive.
Cabinteely could have snuck a goal in before full-time to take an undeserved point away from Tolka Park. Midfielder Evan Finnegan was allowed plenty of time on the ball at the edge of the box. He struck his effort low and hard but it went across the box, just inches wide of the post.
Shelbourne held off the late attack and secured a precious three points.
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Hero
Mark Sandford
The striker was unlucky to be taken off after 63 minutes. However, he had done enough in that time and probably should have put his name on the scoresheet. He was tracking down the ball at every effort and put the Cabinteely defence under pressure whenever he could. A fine display by the young striker.
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Zero
Victor Ekanem and Robert Maloney.
The central defenders were beaten multiple times by Mark Sandford and Philly Hughes. They were lucky not to concede more goals throughout the game as Shelbourne were relentless in pursuing a second.
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The Crowd Pleaser
The home fans were happy to see their side play some exciting football following last week’s poor showing. However, the pieces of skill that impressed the crowd were undoubtedly the beautiful long passes made by Dylan McGlade.
The winger’s passes were impressive and nearly all of them landed at the feet of their intended target. It was definitely an improvement on last week’s display and got the crowd buzzing.
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Best Battle
Dylan Mc Glade vs Daniel Campbell and Jamie McGlynn.
The Shels winger zipped past the two full-backs several times and made it look easy. Between changing flanks with his partner on the wing, Gareth Coughlan, McGlade managed to work the ball into the box several times and made some perfect long passes to the feet of Sandford and Hughes.
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What Happens Next?
With this win Shelbourne end a streak of four league games without a victory. Their next fixture is an away tie against Athlone Town. The reverse game ended with a 3-1 win for the Town in Tolka Park, a rarity. The Drumcondra side now move up a spot in the table from sixth to fifth after Cobh Ramblers’ lost away to Wexford Youths.
Cabinteely stay put in seventh place with eight points, one ahead of bottom side, Waterford United, who held Finn Harps to a 2-2 draw at Finn Park. It’s the clash of the bottom two next week as Cabinteely travel to Waterford United for their next league tie.
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Teams
SHELBOURNE: Murray, O’Connor, Osam, Robinson, Heaney, Doyle (C), Coughlan (Earley 67′), Walsh, Hughes, Sandford (O’Sullivan 63′), McGlade
Substitutes: Brady, Donnelly, Crowe, Kehoe, Gannon
Goals: O’Connor (41′)
Yellow Cards: Doyle (13′), Coughlan (42′), Robinson (60′), Walsh (87′)
Cabinteely: Whelan, Campbell (Cairns 76′), McGlynn, Ekanem, Maloney(C), Finnegan, Brilly, McKeown (Mazono 44′), Pender, Hanley, Foley (Fahy 66′)
Substitutes: J. Broderick, R. Broderick, Cairns, O’Neill, Hyland
Referee: David Keeler
Attendance: 391
Conor McManus, Pundit Arena
Read More About: Adam O'Connor, Cabinteely FC, Dylan McGlade, irish football, LOI First Division 2015, Mark Sandford, shelbourne fc
