REPORT: Kildare County 1 - 3 Shelbourne

Shelbourne came away from Newbridge with three points thanks to second half goals from Damien Brennan, Anthony Flood and David Freeman after trailing at half time to a Barry Clancy strike.

The introduction of Alan Mulcahy at half time turned the tie in Shelbourne’s favour, as the winger created two of their goals. Kildare couldn’t handle him and things got worse when William Tyrell was sent off with eleven minutes remaining.

Shels’ found the net as early as the 3rd minute when Robbie Hedderman was flagged offside tapping in from a Flood knock on. Kildare seemed happy to soak up the pressure from a rather unadventurous Shelbourne side and tried utilising the speed of their frontline on the counter attack. This tactic appeared to be working in the first half as Shels’ struggled to break through their defence and the pace of Barry Clancy, Cathal Brady and Philip Gorman posed a consistent threat for the Shels’ back line.

An impressive one-touch move from the three produced a smart save from Dean Delaney in the 25th minute, only moments after Clancy had seen his shot roll wide from in front of goal following great thinking by Brady. Shels’ continued to enjoy most of the possession when out of nothing, in the 31st minute, Kildare’s Brady was fed the ball down the right hand side. The linesman flagged for offside, only to be dismissed by the referee and Brady squared it to Barry Slattery in front of goal to slot home.

The Shels’ bench, and travelling support, were incensed and let the officials know exactly how they felt for the remainder of a half which saw Shels’ pick up where they had left off in last weeks poor draw with Dundalk.

The second half began with a bang. Mulcahy was introduced for Chambers and immediately made the difference. His 47th minute cross found Flood who headed on the run only to see his shot brilliantly saved by Charlie Treacy. Then, on 49 mins, Mulcahy took a free from the left hand side of goal. Again Flood’s header couldn’t find the net but Damien Brennan dived at the free low ball to head in the equaliser.

Shelbourne began to play with vigour and a minute later Mulcahy ran by his marker on the right, cut inside, only to slice his shot wide. On 53 mins Mulcahy, now fully in control of the game, took a free kick from out left again. Another in-swinging cross found Flood whose header this time found the net to put Shels’ ahead.

Shels’ winner came from a surging Greg O’Halloran run through the middle on 68 mins. O’Halloran shrugged off the attention of the Kildare midfield, played in Freeman, who delicately curled the ball around the keeper with the outside of his boot. A fine finish from a fine move.

The fixture turned sour with eleven minutes remaining when William Tyrell was dismissed for a heavy challenge on Keely with Freeman free in the area. That left just enough time for Flood to head against the post and a truly great save from Treacy with seconds remaining after good work from Freeman and Keely.

Kildare County: Charlie Treacy; Alan Clarke, John Brophy, Willie Tyrell, Barry Clancy; Cathal Brady (Craig Mooney 85), Barry Slattery, Paul Donnelly, Ger Robinson (Kieran Harte 61); Philip Gorman, Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Craig Berrigan, John Brodrick, Colin Cassidy.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy, Alan Keely, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; James Chambers (Alan Mulcahy 46), Greg O’Halloran, David McGill, (Alan Byrne 81), James Keddy (Mark Rutherford 72); Anto Flood, David Freeman.
Subs not used: John McGuinness, Philip Hughes. 

Referee: Phil Caschera.

Attendance: 429

Extratime Man of the Match: After a fantastic first half from Kildare’s Cathal Brady, it was Shels’ Alan Mulcahy’s introduction, which changed the match.