Bohemians 0 - 3 Shelbourne

Shelbourne got their first league win under new manager Johnny McDonnell with an excellent 3-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park. A Sean Brennan solo effort and Dean Kelly goals on either side of half-time was enough for the Reds to close the deficit to five points at the bottom of the table.

Shels, aided by a very stiff breeze, had the first opportunity of the game. Darren Tinnelly, who was a substitute last week, found space for himself before firing a shot from 20 yards just wide of Dean Delany’s left hand post.

Two minutes later they took the lead through a piece of individual brilliance from Sean Brennan. He collected the ball near the half way line, beat three Bohs players and capitalised on a ricochet before finding himself clean through on goal and he slotted calmly into the bottom right hand corner.

With the gale force wind against them Bohs were struggling to create anything, while Shels were breaking at speed and creating chances. Their next chance came on 26 minutes, when Philly Hughes took advantage of Luke Byrne’s headed clearance and shot, but his left footed effort was high and over the bar.

Tinnelly had another chance two minutes later when he shot after a good cross field ball from Brennan, the effort dragged wide of Delany’s post.

Bohs were reduced to ten men on 32 minutes when Derek Pender was adjudged to have gone in high on Tinnelly, he was shown his marching orders and a tough task was made a lot tougher for Aaron Callaghan’s side.

That task became monumental a minute later, a Brennan cross from the right was left by Owen Heary and there to pounce four yards out was Dean Kelly to make it 2-0.

Bohs had a legitimate penalty shout turned down just before half time when Kevin Devaney made great ground through the Shels defence before seemingly being taken down. Tomas Connolly saw nothing wrong with the challenge and waved play on.

Shels had a late chance in the half, a Brennan corner was nearly met by a sliding Graham Gartland at the back post but the central defender failed to connect.

With the wind in the second half, Bohs were still massively up against it considering they were down to ten men and two goals adrift. That gap became three on 53 minutes, a Philly Hughes ball beat the unfortunate Byrne who slipped and Kelly raced through to finish excellently past Delany.

Bohs came close, fortunately so, on 60 minutes when Keith Buckley’s cross from an awkward angle came down on the crossbar and bounced over.

The visitors had a great chance to make it four on 65 minutes, Byrne scuffed his pass across his own goal and Brennan pounced only to see his shot well saved by the feet of Delany.

It was all Shelbourne and they had two further chances through a Hughes chip and a Hurley shot which was fired over from the penalty spot. The lead should have been extended when Tinnelly crossed for Hughes whose header from six yards was excellently saved by Delany. The ball found its way out to Hurley whose snapshot landed at the feet of Mark Leech but his shot was straight at Delany when he really should have scored.

Bohs were given a glimmer of hope on 79 minutes when Burdon took down Karl Moore and referee Tomas Connolly pointed to the spot. Burdon redeemed himself by saving Chris Lyons’ penalty, with Ryan McEvoy heading over the rebound. A minute later and Moore’s mazy run and shot from distance brought a great save out of the young Shels keeper.

Shels saw the game out for only their second win of the season and more impressively their first away win of the campaign.

Bohemians: Dean Delany; Derek Pender, Owen Heary, Roberto Lopes (Ciaran Nangle 16), Luke Byrne; Keith Buckley, Ryan McEvoy, Dave Mulcahy (Stephen Traynor 56), Karl Moore; Kevin Devaney (Chris Lyons 73), Dave Scully.  
Subs not used: Shane Murray, Michael Barker, Michael Scott, Greg Murray.

Booked: Moore (61), Buckley (90).
Sent Off: Pender (32).

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon; Pat Flynn, Graham Gartland, Ian Ryan, Jack Memery (Brian Shortall 78); Darren Tinnelly, Stephen Hurley, Glenn Cronin, Sean Brennan; Philip Hughes (Gareth O’Connor 88), Dean Kelly (Mark Leech 65).
Subs not used: Adam Hanlon, Ger Hanley, Craig Mooney, Jake Donnelly.

Booked: Memery (23).

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

Attendance:  1,526

Extratime Man of the Match: Sean Brennan (Shelbourne).