Season Preview: Shelbourne
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Shelbourne suffered another season of heartache in 2009 as they crashed out of an eagerly anticipated promotion play-off with local rivals Sporting Fingal.
Again, like 2008, Shelbourne enjoyed spells at the top of the table, but ultimately UCD proved too good to keep up with and edged a narrow four-horse race for the automatic promotion slot at the top of the table.
Manager Dermot Keely has assembled a much changed side for this campaign, possibly his last with the Reds.
The loss of Anthony Flood and David McAllister has stripped Shels of their two most dangerous players and both leading scorers from last season. However, Mark Hughes, Dinny Corcoran and Andy Haran have all come in. With Peter Hynes gone and Paddy Madden a distant memory, these will need to come up with the goods this season.
At the back it is an entirely new set-up. Gone are regular starters Damien Brennan, Alan Keely, Michael Synnott and David Crawley, while Sean Byrne, Ian Ryan, Gareth Whelan and Eric Foley have all come into what will be a new-look starting eleven for Shelbourne’s opening game against Monaghan United at Tolka Park.
With Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and UCD all having been promoted in the last two years, and relegated sides Derry City and Cork City Foras Co-op in a mild form of disarray, again Shelbourne fans would be targeting first spot in a league with less promotion rivals than last year.
However, given two years of very near misses, the thousand strong Tolka Park faithful may get a little nervous as a good Waterford United side pose the biggest threat for promotion. Finn Harps, along with both relegated sides, remain a mystery and like UCD last season, may indeed pose a challenge.
Team: Shelbourne
Manager: Dermot Keely
Players In: Steve Williams, Michael Clarke, Ian Ryan, Robbie Clarke, Paul Shiels (all Drogheda United), Darren Forsyth (Gateshead), Jack Flynn (St Patrick's Athletic), Ray Scully (Free Agent), Sean Byrne (Bohemians), Andy Haran (St Patrick's Athletic - loan), Gareth Whelan, Eric Foley, Dinny Corcoran (all Sporting Fingal), Marc Hughes (Bohemians – loan) Philip Gorman (Kildare County)
Players Out: Dave McAllister, Derek Doyle (Both St Patrick's Athletic) Peter Hynes (Longford Town) Brendan Turley , Shane O'Connell (Both Athlone Town), Damien Brennan (Drogheda United), Alan Keely, Mark O’Brien, Kevin Doyle, Richie Baker, Robbie Hedderman, David Crawley, Anthony Flood (all released)
One To Watch: Dinny Corcoran
Prediction: 3rd
Again, like 2008, Shelbourne enjoyed spells at the top of the table, but ultimately UCD proved too good to keep up with and edged a narrow four-horse race for the automatic promotion slot at the top of the table.
Manager Dermot Keely has assembled a much changed side for this campaign, possibly his last with the Reds.
The loss of Anthony Flood and David McAllister has stripped Shels of their two most dangerous players and both leading scorers from last season. However, Mark Hughes, Dinny Corcoran and Andy Haran have all come in. With Peter Hynes gone and Paddy Madden a distant memory, these will need to come up with the goods this season.
At the back it is an entirely new set-up. Gone are regular starters Damien Brennan, Alan Keely, Michael Synnott and David Crawley, while Sean Byrne, Ian Ryan, Gareth Whelan and Eric Foley have all come into what will be a new-look starting eleven for Shelbourne’s opening game against Monaghan United at Tolka Park.
With Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and UCD all having been promoted in the last two years, and relegated sides Derry City and Cork City Foras Co-op in a mild form of disarray, again Shelbourne fans would be targeting first spot in a league with less promotion rivals than last year.
However, given two years of very near misses, the thousand strong Tolka Park faithful may get a little nervous as a good Waterford United side pose the biggest threat for promotion. Finn Harps, along with both relegated sides, remain a mystery and like UCD last season, may indeed pose a challenge.
Team: Shelbourne
Manager: Dermot Keely
Players In: Steve Williams, Michael Clarke, Ian Ryan, Robbie Clarke, Paul Shiels (all Drogheda United), Darren Forsyth (Gateshead), Jack Flynn (St Patrick's Athletic), Ray Scully (Free Agent), Sean Byrne (Bohemians), Andy Haran (St Patrick's Athletic - loan), Gareth Whelan, Eric Foley, Dinny Corcoran (all Sporting Fingal), Marc Hughes (Bohemians – loan) Philip Gorman (Kildare County)
Players Out: Dave McAllister, Derek Doyle (Both St Patrick's Athletic) Peter Hynes (Longford Town) Brendan Turley , Shane O'Connell (Both Athlone Town), Damien Brennan (Drogheda United), Alan Keely, Mark O’Brien, Kevin Doyle, Richie Baker, Robbie Hedderman, David Crawley, Anthony Flood (all released)
One To Watch: Dinny Corcoran
Prediction: 3rd
About Gordon Hunt
Gordon Hunt is one of extratime's Dublin based reporters. Having worked with the site since it's inception, Gordon's name is carved into the foundations of extratime's tower block. View Full Profile