Report: Shelbourne 2 - 0 Longford Town

Second half goals by David Freeman and Anto Flood helped Shels’ ease to a 2-0 home win against Longford Town. Freeman scored from the spot after Alan O’Riordan was adjudged to have handled in the area and Flood finished the game off after a flowing move between himself and Alan Murphy sliced the Longford defence in the closing stages of the match.

The goals came after a truly dismal first half resulted in no goals and few chances. However both sides should have scored in the first twenty minutes as Shels’ James Chambers and Longford’s Gary Murphy and Brian Kelly spurned good chances to open the scoring. In the tenth minute Chambers played a neat one-two with David Freeman on the edge of the area. Chambers, with only the keeper to beat, shot early and wide when perhaps he had more time than he thought.

In the sixteenth minute, against the run of play, Longford created the move of the half. Iarfhlaith Davoren played in Alan Lynch behind the Shels’ defence. Lynch, under no pressure, found Brian Kelly who’s shot was saved only for the rebound to fall for Gary Murphy. Delaney saved again but couldn’t hold onto the ball only for Shels’ to clear off the line.

It was Shels’ on twenty minutes, through a Longford player, who almost scored next. Greg O’Halloran played the ball across the Longford box and O’Riordan was delighted to see his clearance just creep over his own bar. Sadly what followed were twenty-five of the most lethargic minutes football this reporter has ever witnessed. Passes over-hit, under-hit, misplaced, forgotten, ignored, imagined etc. Luckily, after a generous one minute added on, the referee blew up for half time.

Dermot Keely replaced James Keddy with Mark Rutherford at half time. The substitution changed little at first as eight uneventful minutes passed before any quality arose. Then, Chambers found space just outside the area. His drilled shot struck O’Riordan’s hand and, rather harshly, a penalty was awarded which Freeman happily dispatched.

Less than five minutes later lightening seemed to strike again. After good work from Flood deep in Longford’s half, he found Chambers who excellently controlled the high ball on his chest. Chambers’ drilled shot was blocked by a diving Frawley’s arm. Surprisingly this time no penalty was given, which perhaps balanced out the decision minutes earlier.

Longford were heavily on the back-foot now and Freeman should have doubled the lead after Flood fed him the ball in front of goals, only to see his effort fly high into the stands. Longford’s only attack of note in the second half came after the hour when a kick out found the recently introduced Mick McCarthy, who’s nod down found Daire Doyle, but his long shot was saved.

Shels’ pressure for a second eventually told when Alan Murphy exchanged passes with Flood on the edge of the area. Murphy then pulled his cross back for Flood who had waited in space on the penalty spot to slot home.

With Flood’s calm finish came the end for Longford. For Shels’, the win puts them second, three points behind Dundalk in the race for the sole promotion spot in the First Division. Flood, with six in six, is the threat any team chasing promotion needs and his goals will prove telling as the season goes on. As for Longford, no win in five, things don’t look too well…

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy, Alan Byrne, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; James Chambers (Mark O’Brien 74), David McGill, Greg O’Halloran, James Keddy (Mark Rutherford 46); Anto Flood, David Freeman (Keith Dunne 84).
Subs not used: Fred Davis Jnr, Philly Hughes.

Longford Town: Seamus Kelly; Luke Hardy, Ronan Frawley, Andy Bermingham, Alan O’Riordan; Gary Murphy, Damien Rushe (Michael McCarthy 60), Daire Doyle, Brian Kelly (Dean Barrett 82); Alan Lynch, Iafhlaith Davoren.
Subs not used: Ryan Casey, Stephen Brennan, Neil Gallagher.

Referee: Graham Kelly.
Attendance: 938