Shamrock Rovers 1 - 0 Shelbourne

Shamrock Rovers held on for a nervous 1-0 win over bottom of the table Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night. Ronan Finn's first half goal proved to be the difference between the sides but new Shels manager Johnny McDonnell saw his side very nearly equalize late on.

It was the visitors who had the first shot on goal in the sixth minute. Stephen Hurley played it to Robert Bayly who had a go from about 25 yards out. The ball was probably going wide but Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Barry Murphy dived full length to his left anyway to make the save.

In the 19th minute Shelbourne, who started the game brightly in the evening sun, threatened again after breaking on the counter attack. Adam Hanlon cut in from the left hand side and got his shot away but couldn't keep it down.

Rovers first real opportunity came in the 24th minute. James Chambers swung in a right footed free kick from the left and Jason McGuinness rose highest. He got his header away but the ball went past the post.

The home team scored the only goal of the game in the 29th minute and Karl Sheppard was the creator. He easily got past former Rovers defender Graham Gartland and then pulled it back for Ronan Finn who hit a beautiful right foot shot into the corner of the net which gave Ger Hanley no chance.

The Hoops very nearly went two up in the 37th minute. Stephen Rice and Sheppard played a lovely one-two before Rice played it to his left to Sean O'Connor who shot across goal but his effort went just wide.

The home team started the second half the better and created another chance in the 49th minute. Thomas Stewart broke forward on the left hand side and picked out Finn whose shot was on target but this time Hanley managed to make to save.

Sean O'Connor came close with a free kick in the 69th minute when he curled his effort round the wall but just over the crossbar. Not long after that James Chambers gave the ball away in midfield and substitute Philip Hughes, who was always a threat to the home defence after his introduction, gathered possession and decided to try a shot from just inside the halfway line, but it didn't trouble Brendan Clarke.

15 minutes from time Conor Powell played a fine ball forward and picked out the hardworking Karl Sheppard. Sheppard got away from Ian Ryan and Gartland and got his header away but it was off target.

Neither side created any more clear-cut chances until the first minute of injury time when the visitors will feel they should have scored. Robert Bayly played an excellent ball in behind the Rovers defence which picked out Philip Hughes. Hughes pulled it back to substitute Dean Kelly who had the goal at his mercy just six yards out, but he could only pull his left foot shot across the goal and wide.

New Shelbourne manager Johnny McDonnell will be encouraged by his side's performance and the fact that they kept going until the end. Shamrock Rovers manager Trevor Crolly will probably just be relieved to get a win after drawn so many games already in the league this season.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Conor McCormack, Derek Foran, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell; Sean O'Connor (Gary McCabe 79), Stephen Rice (c), James Chambers (Shane Robinson 85), Ronan Finn, Thomas Stewart; Karl Sheppard (Ciaran Kilduff 77).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, David Elebert, Alan Kehoe, Billy Dennehy.

Booked: Rice (16), Stewart (17).

Shelbourne: Ger Hanley; Robert Cornwall, Ian Ryan (c), Graham Gartland, Pat Flynn; Stephen Hurley, Robert Bayly, Stephen Sheerin (Philip Hughes 70), Sean Brennan, Adam Hanlon; Mark Leech (Dean Kelly 52).
Subs not used: Niall Burdon, Alex Prizeman, Craig Mooney, Adam O'Connor, Darren Tinnelly.

Booked: Bayly (40), Cornwall (44), Ryan (87).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Attendance: 2,822

Extratime.ie man of the match: Jason McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers).