Keely plays down Shels title talk
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Shelbourne Manager Dermot Keely was happy with his team's opening match of the season, a 2-1 home victory over Wexford Youths. However he remains pessimistic about the club's prospects for the season ahead. After the heartbreak of being denied promotion to the Premier Division by the last kick in the final game of last season he believes a return to the top tier could be more difficult than ever to achieve.
The primary reason for this is big spending Sporting Fingal. When asked how many points might be needed to win the league he said: “Well, 99 perhaps as with 33 games to play that’s how many points Fingal could end up with. The difference is the amount of Premier class players they have. I don’t mean players with top division experience but real premier class. They have eight or nine at that level, whereas we have only three.”
The three players in question are Kevin Doherty, David McAllister and the returning Richie Baker. The Shelbourne manager is both surprised and delighted to have signed McAllister from Drogheda United for the coming season: “He is magnificent. I was surprised we managed to sign him so easily, there were no Premier Division clubs in for him, which I couldn’t understand," he said. "He is a real Premier class player already and he will only get better.” Indeed, playing in centre midfield, McAllister’s accurate passing and tough tackling had a major impact on the result of the match.
Keely also had words of praise for his most experienced player, Richie Baker. The former league winner is back for his third spell at the club and had a hand in both the Shels goals. “It is great to have Richie back. You saw the difference he made tonight. Richie Baker and Kevin Doherty are real Premier class players. We are lucky to have them,” said Keely. Doherty, an imposing centre back, limped off in the second half, but the former Liverpool man should be fit for next week's clash away to Monaghan United.
With a view to a long and difficult campaign ahead, Keely said that a lot of hard work was necessary on the training ground: “I was happy with the win tonight but not the performance. We have been training like Manchester United for the last few weeks but I didn’t see that tonight. We were coasting and then gave away a silly goal to let them back into the game. It was their only shot of the first half. They sat back and let us play it round in front of them and we expected that. We had 90% of the play and in the end made it count,” Keely added.
Due to Shamrock Rovers moving to their new stadium in Tallaght and the subsequent lost of rent at Tolka Park, there was concern that this loss of income might adversely affect the budget for Shelbourne. However Keely says this is not the case: “Credit to the board, the loss of rent money from Shamrock Rovers has not affected my budget at all. We are more or less at the same level as we were last season, they have been great.”
Dermot Keely’s honesty is refreshing. An old school manager trying to succeed in modern times. He has turned water in to wine before and with his passion and canniness it would be a brave man to underestimate him. Shelbourne have the hurt from last season to inspire them and will be up there in the shake up again this year for sure.
The primary reason for this is big spending Sporting Fingal. When asked how many points might be needed to win the league he said: “Well, 99 perhaps as with 33 games to play that’s how many points Fingal could end up with. The difference is the amount of Premier class players they have. I don’t mean players with top division experience but real premier class. They have eight or nine at that level, whereas we have only three.”
The three players in question are Kevin Doherty, David McAllister and the returning Richie Baker. The Shelbourne manager is both surprised and delighted to have signed McAllister from Drogheda United for the coming season: “He is magnificent. I was surprised we managed to sign him so easily, there were no Premier Division clubs in for him, which I couldn’t understand," he said. "He is a real Premier class player already and he will only get better.” Indeed, playing in centre midfield, McAllister’s accurate passing and tough tackling had a major impact on the result of the match.
Keely also had words of praise for his most experienced player, Richie Baker. The former league winner is back for his third spell at the club and had a hand in both the Shels goals. “It is great to have Richie back. You saw the difference he made tonight. Richie Baker and Kevin Doherty are real Premier class players. We are lucky to have them,” said Keely. Doherty, an imposing centre back, limped off in the second half, but the former Liverpool man should be fit for next week's clash away to Monaghan United.
With a view to a long and difficult campaign ahead, Keely said that a lot of hard work was necessary on the training ground: “I was happy with the win tonight but not the performance. We have been training like Manchester United for the last few weeks but I didn’t see that tonight. We were coasting and then gave away a silly goal to let them back into the game. It was their only shot of the first half. They sat back and let us play it round in front of them and we expected that. We had 90% of the play and in the end made it count,” Keely added.
Due to Shamrock Rovers moving to their new stadium in Tallaght and the subsequent lost of rent at Tolka Park, there was concern that this loss of income might adversely affect the budget for Shelbourne. However Keely says this is not the case: “Credit to the board, the loss of rent money from Shamrock Rovers has not affected my budget at all. We are more or less at the same level as we were last season, they have been great.”
Dermot Keely’s honesty is refreshing. An old school manager trying to succeed in modern times. He has turned water in to wine before and with his passion and canniness it would be a brave man to underestimate him. Shelbourne have the hurt from last season to inspire them and will be up there in the shake up again this year for sure.
