Flood-gates Closed at Tolka Park

Shelbourne’s promotion push may have received a significant and unexpected shot to the arm in the past fortnight. However, the continued absence of star striker Anto Flood has left a dark cloud hanging over the Reds ahead of their title run-in. Reasons for the 23-year-old’s demotion to the stands are unknown, however, petulance and a penalty miss are believed to be behind his omission.

The irrepressible Golden Boy of Tolka Park for near on twelve months, Flood’s highly impressive first full campaign at Shels took a sharp twist for the worst after he scored a priceless late winner at home to Wexford Youths at the end of May. That was amazingly his 13th league goal in 14 appearances. In total, it was his 24th goal in 31 league outings for the Dublin club. However, he has not scored in the league since.

In late July, his fortunes continued a downward spiral when, just minutes after breaking a seven game sequence without a goal, he suffered a serious injury in a friendly with Leeds United.

Flood made a welcome return ahead of schedule when making a substitute appearance in a 5-0 win over Longford Town a month later, and made his first start just seven days after that in Shels’ 2-1 loss at Sporting Fingal. Indeed, it was in that game where the first signs of unrest was shown as Flood was clearly dissatisfied and vented his frustrations towards the bench after being subbed midway through the second-half.

For their next outing, Flood was placed on the bench in Limerick - whether that was for his actions at the Morton Stadium or due to a lack of match fitness is unknown - and came on at half-time. He then returned to the starting XI for the meeting with his old club Dundalk. However, four days later came his final outing to date in a Shels shirt, when he entered from the bench on the hour-mark in the Reds’ critical meeting with fellow title chasers Waterford United.

With just twelve minutes remaining, Shels were awarded a penalty after Flood was upended inside the area. Flood dusted himself down and took on the responsibility of spot-kick duties despite the fact that David McAllister was on the pitch. McAllister, who was signed on-loan from Drogheda United in July, had previously scored a penalty in Wexford and has since done likewise against Monaghan United, last weekend. Flood, however, stood up and fired his effort against the post.

Since then, Shels have played twice, with Flood watching from the stands on both occasions. It is thought that this banishment from the match squad is due to the fact that Flood, without permission, took over from the designated taker, McAllister. The Reds won both games, however, against two of the three worst travellers in the division, maximum points were expected. Now, thanks to the faltering ways of league leaders Dundalk, Shels are right back in contention for the league crown, though it is hard to see them achieving that goal without Flood in their armoury.

Incidentally, it was due to a breach of club discipline that Flood found his way to Shelbourne in the first place. On 5 May last year, the young hitman was involved in an incident immediately following Dundalk’s scoreless draw with Kildare County at Station Road. While rumours were aplenty as per usual, the exact details of what occurred have never been revealed, however, he was soon sacked by Lilywhites manager John Gill and subsequently signed for Shels.

Shels and Dermot Keely knew from the outset that they were not acquiring an angel, but a hungry, raw and exciting talent who needed moulding and required excellent man management skills and a lot of patience. After his arrival, Flood expressed his delight with his relationship with Keely, however, that now appears to have been tested to its limit.

The Waterford incident was quite unfortunate as such is Flood’s nature that he sensed breaking his scoring duck and netting the winner in such a vital match may well give him the confidence to rekindle his golden touch ahead of the run-in and ultimately fire Shels to promotion.

Now, it seems his admirable hunger could end those hopes. In their other strikers, Shels possess enough firepower to beat most teams in this division. However, Flood’s class gives them an extra edge over their fellow promotion hopefuls. Not using such a weapon is only creating smiles all-round at Dundalk, Waterford and Fingal.

Next Saturday, Shels visit Athlone Town in what is another difficult assignment for the Reds, and it will interesting to see if Flood is reinstated to the matchday squad. If not, against an Athlone side that is more than capable of mixing it with the best when in the mood, Shels’ title ambitions may well be washed out with the rain.

Such is Keely’s status at Shels that the vast majority at Tolka Park will side with the manager in this and almost every one. However, if he fails to restart this gravy train that served his side so well in the opening months of the season and doesn’t give Flood the chance to redeem himself, then the blame for losing out on the league trophy may lie solely at Keely’s feet.

Saturday’s team-sheet is patiently awaited…