Shelbourne manager Joey O’Brien hailed Harry Wood as “the best player in the league” after the attacking midfielder inspired his side to a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers at Tolka Park.
The 2024 champions prolonged their unbeaten run to eight games after what had been a sluggish start to the season and had to soak up plenty of pressure from the league leaders, but hit them on the counter in either half to grab all three points.
Wood created both goals for the home side, crossing for Evan Caffrey to put Shels in front with a looping header in the first half and then setting Mipo Odubeko free with a delightful swerved pass and the Tallaght striker restored their lead following Adam Brennan’s equaliser.
“I think we spoke about him [Wood] enough times now. For me he’s the best player in the league,” O’Brien told RTÉ Sport after the game.
“He’s proven that the whole season. He just maybe hasn’t got the attention because of our results and where we are in the league.
“But I see him every day and he’s a super, super player. It’s great to have him.
“As a fan, when you come to these games, you want to be excited by players and you want to see something that you can’t do yourself.
“He’s a joy to watch. And he’s a great, great kid who works ever so hard.
“Ever since he scored that goal up in Derry [to seal the 2024 league title] and came back fitter, stronger, better.
“He’s used that as a real springboard to kick on and, as I said, turn himself into the best player in the league.”
Joey O’Brien: ‘I think we’ve left a good few points behind us’
Since their 4-3 defeat at home to Drogheda in late April, Shels have gone eight games unbeaten, racking up 16 points out of a possible 24.
The run has propelled them up to fifth in the league, though they still trail Shamrock Rovers at the top by 11 points.
“It was a huge win, obviously it’s always a big win when you beat Rovers,” said O’Brien.
“I think we’ve left a good few points behind in games this year. Tonight at times, we had to ride our luck a little bit. But we have some top players and you get moments and you take them.
“We weren’t great at the start to be honest, we were a bit passive and stood off them. They had too much possession and dictated what they wanted to do.
“We changed the shape and went to 5-3-2, Harry and Mipo up top, and the first goal came from that on the break.
“They had a lot of possession but they had one header across goal that they missed and then Fez [Wessel Speel] made a big save but you’re going to need that against a team like this.
“We’ll enjoy tonight and then Friday-Monday, it starts, all the double-headers.”
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