If a 3-2 loss at home to Dundalk a few weeks ago was the nadir of a challenging season for Shelbourne, the Reds used the reverse fixture to earn redemption, where goals in each half – from Daniel Kelly and Kerr McInroy – came from set plays, so work done on the training ground in the days since Shels surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 4-2 to Drogheda United paid off.
But Reds manager Joey O’Brien will be unhappy with how his side almost threw away a 2-0 advantage again, a penalty two minutes from time by Daryl Horgan setting up a tense finish where Shels just got over the line in terms of the win. Keeper Wessel Speel barely had a save to make before Horgan’s late penalty.
However, the game could have had a different finish if Dundalk striker Gbemi Arubi had at least hit the target with a free header with the score at 2-0 instead of heading over the bar, one of the rare occasions when Arubi managed to get away from the vice-like grip of his marker Sam Bone.
Conceding so many goals from set pieces, when recent Shels sides had been very strong on that front, was a huge concern for the Reds ahead of this game. But their goal, which opened the scoring on 10 minutes, was from a dead-ball situation and was straight from the training ground.
Kerr McInroy of Shelbourne, centre, celebrates with teammates
LOI Review – Friday, May 1
Harry Wood took a corner, played a one-two with Jack Henry-Francis. Wood spotted Kerr McInroy in a good position on the edge of the area and, as he dinked it into the box, Kelly couldn’t believe his luck as he was unmarked and free to stab home his third goal of the season.
It had been a cagey affair before the goal and more of the same after it, tension evident when both camps became embroiled in a row on 22 minutes. Sparked by a clash between Mayowa Animasahun and Sean Boyd, players and staff raced to get involved and the outcome was a red card for Shels physio Mauro Martins.
Dundalk were struggling to get a foothold in the game and had to wait until the 43rd minute for a real chance, a strong run from midfield by captain Daryl Horgan and a shot which was deflected out for a corner by Paddy Barrett.
Shels could have been 2-0 up at that stage, Kerr McInroy breaking free on the counterattack and setting up Kelly, who got a shot in, but Enda Minogue in the Dundalk goal was able to make a save.
Dundalk boss Ciaran Kilduff gave his verdict on his side’s display in a tame first half by hooking three players at the break, with veterans Rob Cornwall, Declan McDaid and Bobby Burns thrown in, in place of Harvey Warren, Keith Buckley and Eoin Kenny.
But there was no change to the pattern of the game as Shels remained in control. In fact, it was an act by one of the Dundalk subs which gave Shels the opening needed for their second goal. Sub Burns was booked and conceded a free kick for a needless high challenge on Kameron Ledwidge. Paddy Barrett thumped that free kick up the other end, where Sean Boyd got his head to it and flicked on for McInroy to use his skill and lob the ball over Minogue, a first goal of the season for the Shels man.
Shels had, of course, thrown away a 2-0 lead only a week earlier, but this Reds team were much more committed and focused, and that Barrett/Bone axis at the heart of the defence gave up very little until very late on.
It took another dead ball to give Dundalk a lifeline, Ledwidge penalised for handling a Tyreke Wilson cross, and Horgan stepped up on 88 minutes to score from the spot. Dundalk pushed on in the nine minutes of added time, but Shels held on, frustration from the home camp as other penalty appeals were denied and, while the loss of a clean sheet may irk O’Brien, relief with the win will counter that.
Dundalk boss Ciaran Kilduff confirmed afterwards that he received a second yellow card late on and will serve a touchline ban for game on Monday away to Waterford.
DUNDALK – Minogue; JR Wilson, Warren (Cornwall 46), Animasahun, T Wilson; Dervin, Buckley (Burns 46); Horgan, Teahan (Groome 73), Kenny (McDaid 46); Arubi.
SHELS – Speel; Gannon, Barrett, Bone, Ledwidge; Lunney, McInroy; Wood (Coote 67), Henry-Francis (Caffrey 80), Kelly (Chapman 94); Boyd (Freitas 80).