Shels off to a flyer at Phoenix
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A quick-fire double from David McAllister just before half-time and another from new signing Paddy Madden shortly after the break saw Shelbourne kick-off their pre-season preparations with a comfortable 3-1 victory over LSL side Phoenix at a freezing Scribblestown on Tuesday night.
Phoenix, who started with former Shels striker Keith Dunne in attack and later brought on another ex-Red Philly Hughes, threatened an upset early on when they took the lead in comical circumstances after just ten minutes. Goalkeeper Dean Delaney played the ball to Kevin Doherty, but with no danger, the centre-half slipped and gifted possession to the home side, who took full advantage of Delaney being stranded to fire into an empty net from close to 40-yards.
Shels were well on top throughout, however, and came close to levelling on a number of occasions. Left-back David Crawley, who, like fellow defender Doherty, returned to Shels ahead of the new season, went agonisingly close with a free-kick from 25-yards that crashed back off the crossbar, while his deliveries from corners caused numerous problems in the first-half. A number of other Shels players also had efforts on goal, but none forced the Phoenix 'keeper into a difficult save.
Shels, however, did find an equaliser right on the stroke of half-time, as they were awarded a penalty, having earlier been given an indirect free-kick inside the box for obstruction. David McAllister, who signed permanently last month having spent the second-half of last season on-loan at Tolka Park, stood up and blasted the spot kick to the net. Within moments, McAllister, who scored seven goals in his short spell with the Reds last term, found the net again, this time with a 25-yard stunner, to give the visitors an unlikely 2-1 half-time lead.
Dermot Keely made five changes during the interval with Dean Delaney, Kevin Doherty, David Crawley, Derek Doyle and Anto Flood being replaced by Vinny Whelan, Stephen Quigley, Robbie Hedderman, Darren Meenan and Paddy Madden. And, shortly after the restart, it was Madden, who signed on-loan from Bohemians earlier in the day, that gave Shels a two-goal cushion as he fired home from close-range after good work by David Cassidy. With a number of substitutions on both sides, the game was played out with very little goal-mouth action, as Keely also decided to give run-outs to three youngsters.
Overall, it was a good workout and performance from Shels, who started with five of their winter signings, while they introduced three more new recruits during the game. Richie Baker, who returned to the club on Sunday, was in attendance but didn't play as he is only due to start training with his new team-mates on Wednesday. He could, however, make his debut at the weekend as Shels continue their build-up to the First Division kick-off with a match against Bray Wanderers at Wayside Celtic's ground on Saturday afternoon.
Shelbourne FC Team vs. Phoenix: Dean Delaney (Vinny Whelan); Damien Brennan, Kevin Doherty (Stephen Quigley), Alan Keely (Keith Murray), David Crawley (Robbie Hedderman); David Cassidy, David McAllister (David Mulqueen), Mark O'Brien, Derek Doyle (Darren Meenan); Peter Hynes (Jordan McMillan), Anto Flood (Paddy Madden).
Phoenix, who started with former Shels striker Keith Dunne in attack and later brought on another ex-Red Philly Hughes, threatened an upset early on when they took the lead in comical circumstances after just ten minutes. Goalkeeper Dean Delaney played the ball to Kevin Doherty, but with no danger, the centre-half slipped and gifted possession to the home side, who took full advantage of Delaney being stranded to fire into an empty net from close to 40-yards.
Shels were well on top throughout, however, and came close to levelling on a number of occasions. Left-back David Crawley, who, like fellow defender Doherty, returned to Shels ahead of the new season, went agonisingly close with a free-kick from 25-yards that crashed back off the crossbar, while his deliveries from corners caused numerous problems in the first-half. A number of other Shels players also had efforts on goal, but none forced the Phoenix 'keeper into a difficult save.
Shels, however, did find an equaliser right on the stroke of half-time, as they were awarded a penalty, having earlier been given an indirect free-kick inside the box for obstruction. David McAllister, who signed permanently last month having spent the second-half of last season on-loan at Tolka Park, stood up and blasted the spot kick to the net. Within moments, McAllister, who scored seven goals in his short spell with the Reds last term, found the net again, this time with a 25-yard stunner, to give the visitors an unlikely 2-1 half-time lead.
Dermot Keely made five changes during the interval with Dean Delaney, Kevin Doherty, David Crawley, Derek Doyle and Anto Flood being replaced by Vinny Whelan, Stephen Quigley, Robbie Hedderman, Darren Meenan and Paddy Madden. And, shortly after the restart, it was Madden, who signed on-loan from Bohemians earlier in the day, that gave Shels a two-goal cushion as he fired home from close-range after good work by David Cassidy. With a number of substitutions on both sides, the game was played out with very little goal-mouth action, as Keely also decided to give run-outs to three youngsters.
Overall, it was a good workout and performance from Shels, who started with five of their winter signings, while they introduced three more new recruits during the game. Richie Baker, who returned to the club on Sunday, was in attendance but didn't play as he is only due to start training with his new team-mates on Wednesday. He could, however, make his debut at the weekend as Shels continue their build-up to the First Division kick-off with a match against Bray Wanderers at Wayside Celtic's ground on Saturday afternoon.
Shelbourne FC Team vs. Phoenix: Dean Delaney (Vinny Whelan); Damien Brennan, Kevin Doherty (Stephen Quigley), Alan Keely (Keith Murray), David Crawley (Robbie Hedderman); David Cassidy, David McAllister (David Mulqueen), Mark O'Brien, Derek Doyle (Darren Meenan); Peter Hynes (Jordan McMillan), Anto Flood (Paddy Madden).
