Friendly Report: Shelbourne 0 - 1 Galway United

Shelbourne welcomed Galway United to Tolka Park on Friday night in the final pre-season friendly for both clubs before their respective league openers next week.

A sole Stephen Kenny goal gave the Tribesmen the victory in a fiercely competitive game.

Shels enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening 15 minutes and Adam Evans in particular looked sharp straight from the referee’s whistle.

On three occasions inside the first 10 minutes he skipped by Galway full back Aaron Conway and delivered teasing balls into the box, that new boy David O’Sullivan couldn’t quite get his head on.

While Galway managed to battle their way into the game and had a couple of efforts of their own through Stephen Walsh and Ryan Connolly, it was the Reds who carved the best chance of the half on 25 minutes.

Lorcan Fitzgerald, making his second debut for the home side, curled a wonderful ball down the left channel which found O’Sullivan who began to bare down on goal. He opened his body up superbly and guided a shot past Galway goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan, only to be denied by the post. It was by far the best move of the half and probably would have heralded a deserved lead for Shels.

As the heavens began to open in Tolka Park, so did the game. Stephen Kenny came closest for Galway on the stroke of half time with a free kick that was parried by Dean Delany. A goalmouth scramble ensued but it stayed all level at the break.

As the second half began it was the home side who looked the most likely once more until a horrific injury to centre half Aidan Collins. Just outside of the centre circle Collins stumbled and landed heavily on his shoulder in what looked to be a dislocation. Collins could be heard screaming from the stands in pain and this lead to a ten minute delay in the game while he was treated on the pitch but he luckily was able to walk off the pitch and down the tunnel.

After the long break in play came a flurry of second half substitutes and Galway seemed to benefit most from this. They began to get a foothold on the game and were rewarded for their pressure on 77 minutes.

Kenny who was the pick of the bunch all night could probably count himself a little fortunate with the opening goal of the game. Kenny delivered a looping free kick from just inside the Shelbourne half, which caused confusion in their defensive ranks. Derek Prendergast ducked out of the way of the incoming cross and the slippy surface meant the ball skidded through goalkeeper Lee Steacy’s legs in goal. He replaced Dean Delany early in the second half and it was certainly a night to forget for the young keeper.

Despite the calamitous goal, Shels rallied to try and find an equaliser but even with 11 additional minutes at the end of the game they were unable to find that goal.

A highly entertaining game by all accounts will set both of these sides in good stead ahead of the beginning of the First Division next week. Shelbourne will travel to UCD in their first game while Galway will be looking to get off the mark at home to Athlone Town at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; James Brown, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Aidan Collins, Derek Prendergast; Dylan Grimes, Adam Evans, Gavin Boyne, James O’Brien; David O’Sullivan, Dayle Rooney.

Substitutes: James English, Dylan Kavanagh, James Woods, David Mulcahy, Jamie Doyle, Aaron Molloy, Lee Steacy.

Yellow Cards: Jamie Doyle (68), James Brown (37).

Galway United: Tadhg Ryan, Conor Laying, Alan Murphy, Stephen Walsh, Gary Shanahan, Robbie Williams, Stephen Kenny, Aaron Conway, Eoin McCormack, Ryan Connolly, Conor Barry.

Substitutes: Arek Manala, Mikey Whelan, Adam Rooney, Ronan Manning, Harrsion Reeves (trialist), Maurice Nugent.

Referee: Adriano Reale.

Attendance: 158.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Kenny (Galway United).