Friendly Report: Shelbourne 2 - 1 St Patrick's Athletic

A last gasp strike from Adam Evans handed Shelbourne a deserved 2-1 victory over St. Patrick's Athletic in a friendly at IT Blanchardstown on Sunday afternoon.

Shels were resolute in defence throughout the game and took their chances well to punish a wasteful and frustrated Pats side.

The First Division side started well, forcing Conor O’Malley into action from a corner before an early penalty shout went ignored when James English was bundled over in the box. Worryingly for Pats, O’Malley seemed to damage his shoulder in an early clash and was unable to continue, coming off holding his shoulder as he was replaced by Barry Murphy.

A minute after Murphy's introduction the ball was in the back of Pats net, as Niall Lanigan's corner was glanced towards goal by Aaron Ashe and the ball went in off the unfortunate Rory Feely. The own goal did little to slow Pats momentum but the compactness of the Shels side did, as the silky passing play of Liam Buckley's side did little to expose cracks in Shels’ well-organised back line.

Graham Kelly slid in Christy Fagan in the 21st minute but he could only draw a good save from Shels keeper Dean Delany, and Pats were largely restricted going forward. Set pieces offered the Inchicore side a chance, and a clever free kick routine from Conan Byrne and Alex O’Hanlon bought Byrne space for a shot, but it was saved by Delany.

Feely was particularly effective with long balls, twice almost finding Conan Byrne from deep, but Shels stood firm and with half an hour gone they began to get back into the game, with Lanigan and Dylan Kavanagh dictating the tempo in midfield.

A couple of rash challenges from Kurtis Byrne led to dangerous Shelbourne free kicks, while Dayle Rooney had a shot deflected over from close range with 35 minutes gone.

The resistance was broken in the 41st minute, however, when some great passing play from Kelly and Fagan found Conan Byrne unmarked in the centre of the box, and he duly converted to draw Pats level.

A flurry of half time changes for Pats brought extra energy at the beginning of the second half, with an audacious early lob from sub striker Josh O'Hanlon a possible sign of things to come.

Shelbourne settled quicker into the game, though, and remained tough to break down, frustrating the Inchicore side, limiting them to hopeful shots from range. Keith Treacy’s 30 yard half-volley the closest they came.

Quality of the final ball deserted both sides for much of the half, with Shane Elworthy blazing a cross way over for Pats after a quick free kick found him in acres of space, and Darragh Markey producing the same on the opposite wing three minutes later.

Frustration began to take hold, and a rash challenge by Treacy on Chris Lyons almost cost Pats as Lyons was played in from a Dylan Grimes free, but his shot was blocked by Lee Desmond.

Pats managed an opportunity in the 83rd minute when Kelly finally played a good ball into Josh O'Hanlon, but he was unable to score. More chances began to come for Pats after this as they pushed for a winning goal, with a great cross from Elworthy just missing O'Hanlon before Reece McEnteer cleared.

With just two minutes left, Elworthy was involved again in Pats’ attack. Some delightful one-two play with Treacy put him through and his cross was right onto the head of O'Hanlon, but the header was just over the bar. The away side were left to rue that missed opportunity as Desmond was caught in possession by Evans, who bore down on Murphy one-on-one before smashing the ball into the top left corner to give Shelbourne a late lead.

Pats nearly nicked an equaliser but Kurtis Byrne's volley was tipped away by substitute goalkeeper Jamie Quinn. One final long range effort from Treacy did little to trouble Quinn and Shels held on for a resolute and dogged victory.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany (Jamie Quinn 83); Adam O'Connor, Jack Tuite, Aidan Collins, Reece McEnteer; Robert Bayly (James O'Brien 46), Niall Lanigan (Alan Byrne 48), Dylan Kavanagh (Lorcan Shannon 63), Aaron Ashe (Adam Evans 63); Dayle Rooney (Chris Lyons 46), James English (Dylan Grimes 70).

Subs not used: None.

St Patrick's Athletic: Conor O’Malley (Barry Murphy 11); Shane Elworthy, Rory Feely (Stephen Grogan 55), Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham (Keith Treacy 46); Sam Vordon, Graham Kelly, Kurtis Byrne, Alex O’Hanlon (Jack Bayly 46), Conan Byrne (Darragh Markey 46); Christy Fagan (Josh O'Hanlon 46).

Subs not used: Graeme Buckley.

Referee: David Berry.

Attendance: 100 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Neil Lanigan (Shelbourne).