Report: Shelbourne 0 - 2 Limerick 37

Limerick 37 inflicted a humiliating defeat on Shelbourne tonight despite playing over half the game with ten men. Two goals in as many minutes by Gary Sheehan midway through the first half, the second as a result of horrendous goalkeeping, gave the visitors a hard fought 2-0 win at Tolka Park, leaving Shels without a win since May.

Shels’ started the better, enjoying plenty of possession early on. They nearly took the lead on ten minutes when James Chambers’ cross went over the heavily marked Anto Flood to the free David Freeman at the back post, but he volleyed wide.

Chambers shot wide from twenty yards on fifteen minutes before two minutes of remedial football cost Shels’ dearly. First, Damien Brennan felt the need to haul Gary Sheehan down in a dangerous position despite being under little pressure. Brian Cleary whipped in a great ball to the back post where David Ryan nodded it across goal. After Shunke Manjor managed to make a meal of it, Sheehan drilled the ball in from six yards out.

Before the home crowd had time to say ‘that was muck!’ Dean Delaney chalked up his worst moment of the season as he messed up a simple back pass, also under no pressure, with Sheehan again on hand to put away Limerick’s second to the delight of the raucous away support.

Shels’ were rocked and struggled to create any clear chances as the half wore on. But then on forty two minutes, Wayne Colbert felt the need to help the reds as he hauled down David McGill near the halfway line. Colbert had been booked already on fifteen minutes for a similar crime and the referee was left with no choice but to send the midfielder down the tunnel.

Dermot Keely made two changes at half time with Alan Byrne and Mark O’Brien making way for new boys Dave McAllister and Gary McCabe. McAllister made an immediate impact with a heavy challenge on Sheehan, rewarding him in a yellow card two minutes into his Shels’ career.

Shels’ attacked from the start with a golden chance for Freeman on fifty minutes, only a yard off the line, after Flood hooked a loose ball across goal. Paul Danahen however somehow managed to blocked several attempts from Freeman and eventually the visitors won a free out.

Ten minutes later and Gary McCabe did well on the left to find space for a shot but Dave Ryan saved well in the Limerick goal. The crowd were restless by this stage, groaning at every misplaced pass, however McCabe was looking bright when he was involved down the rarely used left flank. It was a high McCabe cross that gave Shels’ another great chance after Ryan spilled a ball under pressure from Flood. However Stephen Goggin used all the male parts of his body to block Freeman’s goal bound strike.

Disaster then for Shels’ on seventy minutes, after Limerick threw them another lifeline. Brendan Daly took Damien Brennan down inside the area after great play by the latter but after an elongated wait while one of the Limerick players received treatment, Dave Ryan, leaving the crowd even further frustrated, saved Freeman’s penalty.

Ten minutes later came another good chance for the hosts after McCabe switched to the right hand side. After turning his marker his first shot was blocked before he reacted well to volley his second effort towards goal. Despite a massive deflection sending Dave Ryan the wrong way, he still managed to reach out and punch it to safety.

Then again with four minutes to go, after Chambers’ curling effort from the edge of the area seemed destined for the far corner, Ryan again thwarted the hosts. McCabe’s twenty five yard free kick on ninety minutes did little to trouble the imperious Ryan as Limerick held on to an impressive win.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy (David McAllister 46), Alan Byrne, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman;  Mark O’Brien (Gary McCabe 46), David McGill, James Chambers, James Keddy; Anto Flood, David Freeman (Keith Dunne 74).
Subs not used:  John McGuinness, Dean Lawrence.

Limerick 37: Dave Ryan; Brendan Daly, Paul Danaher, Tommy Barrett, Brian Cleary; Jason Hughes, Wayne Colbert, David Ryan (Peter White 51), Paul Walsh (James Hayes 77); Gary Sheahan, Chimka Manjor (Stephen Goggin 43)
Subs not used: Darren Harrington, Liam Barrett.

Sent Off: Colbert (43).

Referee: Darren Coombes.

Attendance: 835

Extratime Man of the Match: Dave Ryan. (Limerick 37).