Report: Kildare County 1 - 2 Shelbourne
Credit:
Shelbourne closed the gap on leaders Dundalk to two points again, thanks to a deserved two one win over Kildare County at Station Road. Trailing at half time to a Ciaran Kilduff penalty, Shels put in an improved second half performance. While they did enough to win all three points, they have slipped to third in the table as a result of Waterford's four goals without reply against Longford.
Although they were the better side in the first half, Shelbourne never really seemed to get going. Possession was wasted too often with long balls, and unnecessary fouls were common. All in all both sides created little in the first forty five.
Franco Georgescu had to leave the action around the half hour mark to be replaced by Mark Rutherford. With Anto Flood out for anything up to eight weeks, manager Dermot Keely will be hoping that the on-loan Bray man isn't sidelined for long.
Kildare took the lead against the run of play shortly before the interval. Kilduff, on loan for the season from Shamrock Rovers, was adjudged to have been fouled by centre back Damien Brennan in the box. Kilduff took and scored the spot kick himself, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Shels were back on level terms after just two minutes of the second half. Mark O'Brien put a dangerous free kick into the box that the Kildare back line were forced to concede a corner from. Defender Robbie Hedderman connected with it and made it one all.
Rutherford was having a good night since being introduced, and he came close to giving the visitors the lead, but his header hit the woodwork. Winger Gary McCabe was then denied by the frame of the goal after cutting inside and trying his luck with a shot.
Just short of the sixty minute mark, Shelbourne took the lead and O'Brien was again involved in the build up. He got the better of substitute Owen Kavanagh and crossed into the box. Striker Dave Freeman was at the ready and in space, and had no problem putting the ball into the net from near the penalty spot.
A goal up, Shelbourne seemed to sit back a little, and Kildare came back into the game without producing any clear cut openings, Rutherford was then played through one on one with the keeper, but he wasn't able to extend their lead.
Kildare could have equalised with ten minutes left on the clock, but Colin Fortune shot wide when he picked up the ball from a half cleared corner. McCabe then came close for Shelbourne. Shels deserved the win, but will need to play a lot better if they are to continue to challenge for the title.
Kildare County: Austin O'Neill; Glen Walsh, Paul Donnelly, David O'Connell (Colin Osbourne 85), Babba Isaaka (Eoin Kavanagh 33); Barry Slattery, Greg Kilkenny, Colin Fortune, Craig Mooney; Ger Robinson (Eoin Powderly 65), Ciaran Kilduff.
Shelbourne: Dean Delany; James Chambers, Dean Lawrence, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; Gary McCabe (Alan Byrne 85), Mark O'Brien (Alan Murphy 75), David McGill, James Keddy; David Freeman, Franco Georgescu (Mark Rutherford 33).
Referee: Sean Grant.
Man of the Match: Mark Rutherford or Gary McCabe (Shelbourne).
