League Report: Shelbourne 2-1 St Patrick’s Athletic

Andrew Dempsey reports from Tolka Park

Paddy Barrett took the roof off Tolka Park on Friday night with a thunderous header to give Shelbourne a vital win over Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic.

Shels had trailed following a first-half goal from Joe Redmond – but they eventually bested the Saints in Drumcondra.

And their cause was aided by a red card shown to Jay McGrath in the 65th minute.

Portuguese recruit Euclides Cabral levelled with his first touch in the League of Ireland after signing for Shels on Wednesday after 80 minutes – while Barrett then arrowed a header into the top corner from a Harry Wood set-piece in the 90th.

And their win was just their third over the Saints at Tolka Park since 2006 – with their last coming in 2020 under former boss Ian Morris.

Shelbourne’s European dream is well and truly on.

Searching for their first win at Tolka Park since June 5th, Damien Duff’s side remained unchanged from their victory over Sligo Rovers last week.

Jon Daly’s men made two changes from their success at the UCD Bowl, with Sam Curtis and Mark Doyle coming in for Ryan McLaughlin and Adam Murphy.

But it was Shelbourne who started the game the better of the two teams and had an early opportunity to score via Harry Wood – with the Hull City loanee curling over the bar after a sweeping move.

And they went close again just moments later through Evan Caffrey after Moylan linked up well with Will Jarvis before the former UCD prospect saw his low effort on goal saved by busy Saints stopper Dean Lyness.

While Lyness may have been busy, the Saints broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 20th minute of the game.

After Shels failed to clear Jake Mulraney’s free-kick, the ball fell kindly to Jamie Lennon on the right-flank and his expertly-weighted ball into the penalty area was met by Redmond’s head to give the visitors the lead.

The Athletic grew into the game soon after and threatened with shots on goal from Chris Forrester and Mulraney – but none of which especially Conor Kearns in the Shelbourne goal.

But while they grew into the game, the hosts still had better chances.

Wood was lively and he almost pierced through the St Pat’s defensive rearguard on several occasions, while Mark Coyle also fired over the bar with a curling effort after he was picked out by Moylan.

Forrester then went close with a shot that skewed wide past the post before the break – but the best chance was to come, and it came from the hosts.

Tyreke Wilson cut inside on the right before playing a ball to Moylan who had the goal in his sights before being blocked down.

But the former Bohemians youth could only place his effort wide of goal as the Reds went in a goal behind against their Inchicore foes.

And they continued their dominance during the second-half.

While Forrester had the first effort on target of the half, Shels eventually took charge with Moylan going closest just past the hour mark as his goal bound effort was blocked by Anto Breslin.

But the game changed in the 65th minute when Jay McGrath was dismissed for a second bookable offence when he felled Moylan after he was turned.

Jarvis had Shels first chance after the red card when he danced his way around the Saints defence before getting a shot on goal away – but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by a frantic Breslin block.

That was a teaser of the onslaught that was to come – and it was a successful one.

Cabral – who came on in the 79th minute – found the net with his first touch in the 80th minute when he poked into the net after getting on the end of a Shane Farrell cross

Barrett then went close to putting Shels in front in the 83rd minute but could only head over the bar.

But the Waterford man did not have long to wait to score and send the Shels faithful into a delirious state.

With injury time looming, the Saints coughed up a corner-kick that Wood took.

And from the set-piece Barrett met the ball with a sweet header to arrow his effort into the top corner and break St Pat’s hearts.

The goal means that Shels are just one point behind fourth-placed Bohemians - with the Saints losing ground in the title race to league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Patrick Barrett, Shane Griffin, Gavin Molloy, Tyreke Wilson (Euclides Cabral 79); Evan Caffrey (Shane Farrell 58), Mark Coyle (Jad Hakiki-Filloche 73), William Jarvis, Jonathan Lunney; Jack Moylan, Harry Wood.

Subs not used: John Wilson, Luke Byrne, Andrew Quinn, Brian McManus, Gbemi Arubi, Harry Fisk.

Booked: Mark Coyle (31), Patrick Barrett (37).

St. Patrick's Athletic: Dean Lyness; Anthony Breslin, Sam Curtis, Jay McGrath, Joseph Redmond; Mark Doyle (Thomas Lonergan 77), Christopher Forrester, Kian Leavy (Adam Murphy 62), Jamie Lennon, Jake Mulraney (Ryan McLaughlin 66); Conor Carty.

Subs not used: Daniel Rogers, Harry Brockbank, Ben McCormack, Thijs Timmermans, Mason Melia, Jason McClelland.

Booked: Jay McGrath (24), Anthony Breslin (35), Jamie Lennon (55), John-Alan McGrath (65).

Sent off: Jay McGrath (65).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Attendance: TBC.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Harry Wood (Shelbourne).