Shels team effort key for Kavanagh

It was a man of the match performance for Shelbourne’s Paddy Kavanagh against UCD on Friday night.  Playing against the team where he started his League of Ireland career, Kavanagh was instrumental in setting up both of his sides goals including one after just 16 seconds of the game.

“Straight from the off we wanted to set a tempo for ourselves,” said Kavanagh after the game.  “The right full (Hugh Douglas) had a bad touch.  I nicked it and I got a decent ball in the box and fair play to Philly (Gorman) he has got up with me and put it away.”

Gorman’s half volley was executed as well as ones we saw from visiting Russian international tennis player Arina Rodionova who knocked about on the UCD pitch as part of the half time entertainment.  It was game-set-and-match to Shelbourne on 65 minutes when again Kavanagh provided the cross this time for David Cassidy.  His finish into the net meant the stadium was reverberating to the celebrating racket of the Shels fans at the end of the match.

“Anto (Murphy) has got the ball out wide and I’ve decided to take a gamble and make a run across the defence,” said Kavanagh explaining Shelbourne’s second goal.  “He has played me in and I got my head up and rolled it in the corridor between the centre halves and goalkeeper and luckily Casso has come round the back.”

In between the goals, Kavanagh was a constant threat for Shelbourne.  UCD’s Chris Lyons went in the book with an overzealous challenge in trying to prevent Kavanagh’s marauding runs.  In the second half there were two Kavanagh’s on the field with Paddy’s brother James a substitute for UCD.  It was just after half time, when Kavanagh could well of scored. He picked up Mark McGinley’s poor clearance and his shot from 40 yards went low just by the post with McGinley scrambling to get back in the UCD goal.

Shelbourne had to play with 10 men from 13 minutes into the game when referee Alan Kelly sent off Sean Byrne for a crunching tackle on UCD’s Mark Langtry.  Kavanagh explained though that they didn’t panic when the sending off occurred.  

“It has happened us a few times now this season.  We were well disciplined.  We sat in well when we had to and we counter attacked and got goals out of it.”

Unlike last week, Shelbourne’s preparations on Friday did not involve anyone from the League discussing in the dressing room alleged betting irregularities ahead of kick off.  “No interruptions this week,” said Kavanagh.  “That is something that shouldn’t ever have to happen.  Anyone that is involved in that is disgraceful and shouldn’t be involved in the league.” 

Shelbourne manager Alan Mathews didn’t want to single out any one player for man of the match but he did say, “Paddy was excellent and did trojan work.”  

Kavanagh himself smiled when he was told that many in the press box had him down as man of the match.  

“It was a team performance,” stated Kavanagh.  “I know I can carry it and I can dribble and that was key for us.  I thought the boys that came in, sat in well and gave me the licence to go and run, to get up and support Philly (Gorman) so I’ll take a MotM!”

“If we had stepped forward and just gone gung-ho, they would have picked us off.  We saw last week they went out to Tallaght and got two goals back so we know they are capable of scoring goals over 90 minutes.  It was crucial that we were disciplined and stayed tuned in for the 90 minutes and anything added on.”