Shelbourne 3-1 Kildare County

Goals from Darren Forsyth, Philly Gorman and Mark Rutherford ignited a little life back into Shelbourne’s League of Ireland First Division title challenge on Thursday night, as the trio helped the promotion chasing Reds to a comfortable 3-1 win over Kildare County at Tolka Park.

Shels entered the game knowing anything but a win would hammer a final nail in their coffin, though they still lie five points adrift of leaders Dundalk, who don’t play until Sunday. With Anto Flood absent for reasons unknown, Shels started with Forsyth and Gorman in attack, and it was the former who shot the home side in front.

he ex-UCD striker opened the scoring midway through the first-half with a fine header and former Thoroughbred Gorman then added a second shortly after the break. However, despite looking comfortable, Trevor Bowers ensured a nervy finish for the hosts, before the experienced Mark Rutherford finally put the result beyond doubt in injury-time at the end of the game.

After dropping five points to title rivals in the past seven days, as they tasted defeat in Dundalk last week before only managing a draw at home to Waterford United last Monday night, Shels needed this victory and it may yet prove timely. Both Waterford and Fingal, on paper at least, look to have the toughest run-ins of the four remaining challengers, however, Dermot Keely’s men will have to put their best sequence of the season together if they are to overhaul pacesetters Dundalk, who visit Monaghan United this weekend.

Shels were in the ascendancy from the off and went close early on through on-loan winger Gary McCabe as he shot narrowly wide just shy of the quarter-hour. In a rare attack, however, it was Kildare who could have snatched the lead soon after that effort. Right midfielder Cathal Brady supplied striker Ger Robinson with an inch-perfect through ball, however, the ex-Dundalk man fired straight at Dean Delaney in the home goal, before midfielder Colin Fortune failed to find the net with a rebound.

The Reds were soon in front, though, as they took the lead on 25 minutes. James Keddy crossed from the right for the unmarked Forsyth to head in off the post. Shortly before the half-time interval, centre-half Alan Byrne forced his former team-mate Austin O’Neill into a superb save, as County survived to go in just one behind at the break. Following the resumption, Shels again started brightly, however, Gorman fired Mark O’Brien’s assist inches wide. Gorman didn’t have to wait long to net his first club goal, though, as he this time found the target following another O’Brien pass.

Kildare, who spent the majority of the game on the back foot, refused to lie down, however, and they pulled a goal back out of nothing with just under twenty minutes left on the clock. Ciaran Kilduff, on-loan to County from Shamrock Rovers, saw his shot blocked, before Bowers controlled well and planted the ball beyond the hapless Delaney. Brady then came close to a shock equaliser with a cross-cum-shot, however, that was to be the last real scare for Shels, who soon wrapped up the points.

Firstly, O’Neill kept his side in the game with a wonderful double save from Robbie Hedderman, however, he was powerless to deny substitute Mark Rutherford in stoppage time. Fellow sub Andrei Georgescu combined with his team-mate as the on-loan Bray striker assisted Rutherford, who was coolness personified as he stroked the ball home from 12-yards. This win obviously comes as a welcome boost for Shels, who will be hoping that both Waterford and Dundalk will drop precious points over the coming days.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Alan Murphy, Alan Byrne, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; Gary McCabe, David McAllister, Mark O'Brien, James Keddy (Mark Rutherford 83); Philip Gorman (Andrei Georgescu 79), Darren Forsyth.
Subs not used: Vinny Whelan, James Chambers, David McGill.

Kildare County: Austin O'Neill; Colin Osbourne, Glenn Walsh, David O'Connell, Paul Donnelly; Cathal Brady, Colin Fortune (Eoin Kavanagh 73), Barry Slattery, Orin Farrell (Craig Mooney 53); Ger Robinson (Trevor Bowers 62), Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: David Vickery, Eoin Powderly.

Referee: Darren Coombes.

Attendance: 512.