Season Review 2016 - Shelbourne

Manager: Owen Heary

Top Scorer: James English (11).

Highest Attendance: 910 vs. Waterford (October 15^th).

Lowest Attendance: 375 vs. Cabinteely (July 16^th).

Star Player: James English. Since joining Shelbourne mid-way through 2015, English’s desire and will combined with his ability to score goals has endeared him to the Shelbourne and League of Ireland faithfuls alike. Finishing joint third in the First Division top scorers list, with 11 goals, in his first full season in SSE Airtricity League football is certainly no easy feat.

Best Young Player: Jamie Doyle. In what was a disappointing season for Shelbourne, finishing sixth in the First Division table, positives were few and far between. However, while his displays may have not always contained 100% quality, Doyle, who has since joined Bohemians, possesses dangerous pace and a decent work rate, two attributes that make him capable of forcing even the most cultured of teams into mistakes.

Best New Signing: Jamie Doyle. 2016 was really a tough one for Shelbourne on the pitch, meaning for the best signing of 2016, actually made by Kevin Doherty, goes to Jamie Doyle, who joined from UCD at the beginning of 2016.

What we expected they would do: Our reporters’ predictions at the beginning of 2016 suggested that with a fourth placed finish that Shelbourne might have been knocking on the door for a place in the First Division play-offs. We had some optimistic reporters, as a sole reporter believed the Reds would top the First Division, while one of our reporters expected Shels to finish rock bottom.

What they actually did: Shels were way of the mark in 2016, achieving a sixth placed finish, ahead of just Athlone Town and Cabinteely. Kevin Doherty started the campaign in the Tolka Park hot-seat, but left in late June, before being replaced by Owen Heary, who was unable to rescue a successful season for the Reds, who finished a sizeable 20 points behind Cobh Ramblers in the final play-off position.

What they need to improve on for next year: Shels need to add quality and experience in all areas of the pitch if they’re to challenge for promotion next term. Owen Heary really has his work cut out for him this off-season, as he will have to replace Jamie Doyle while also trying to assemble a squad to compete with the likes of Longford, Cobh and UCD who are likely to be challenging for promotion in 2017.

#GreatestLeagueInTheWorld moment of season: While there aren’t any real positive or comedic moments that spring to mind when I think of Shels’ 2016 campaign. There were the disappointing scenes in the final day defeat to Waterford United at Tolka Park. The game had to be halted after supporters, protesting about the club’s move to Dalymount Park, threw flares onto the Tolka Park pitch, which suffered minor damage in the process.