Kildare County 0 - 3 Shelbourne

• Fintan Cassidy
• Sun, May 17 2009


Shelbourne ran out three nil winners over Kildare County on Saturday night in Station Road, but for over an hour they struggled to break through the home defence until Anto Flood added two quick goals in succession on 66 and 68 minutes, after David McAllister had given the visitors the lead just before half time.

Coming into the game the Reds had scored just eleven goals in their nine games played, with many of the team below them in the table having scored more. Meanwhile Kildare had conceded thirty three including eight against Fingal. Shelbourne supporters made the journey to Newbridge certainly hopeful of seeing their side’s goal difference tally improve markedly.

The home side made just one change from their outing against Waterford last week with Baba Issaka replacing the suspended Colin Osbourne at left back. Not for the first time this season, Dermot Keely was forced to rejig his line-up due to injuries and a suspension. He reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with wide-men Ritchie Baker and Derek Doyle getting a start while Kevin Doherty returned from injury at centre-half. David Cassidy dropped to the bench, not having trained during the week due to a groin strain.

Shelbourne came out of the traps quickly with a McAllister snap shot on two minutes going wide, followed just minutes afterwards by another long range effort from the midfielder which this time he ballooned over the bar. Next up on fifteen minutes it was Paddy Madden’s turn to shoot high over the bar from a Baker free kick.

County then should have taken the lead, when they launched a high ball into the area and the Shels captain Daisy Brennan called on Doherty to leave it. Alan Lynch nipped in behind him and was straight through on goal with keeper Delaney rooted to his line. Fortunately for the Reds the young Kildareman didn’t hold his nerve and blasted his shot right and wide.

The home defence continued to keep the Reds at bay, with McAllister once again blazing over the bar from distance. However the visitors finally made the break-through on forty one minutes when after pressing hard, that man McAllister found the net at the second time of asking after his initial effort rebounded to him. Paddy Madden might have added a second just before the break but once again his shot was high.

The second half continued in similar vein with Madden and Baker both going close. The Reds finally put the result beyond doubt on sixty six minutes when Bisto Flood rose highest to head in from a Baker corner. Cassidy then came off the bench to replace the tiring McAllister and a minute later he swung in a cross to give Flood his second headed goal.

The Kildare heads dropped at this stage and the visiting supporters expected the floodgates to open. But the game fizzled out as a contest, with the Reds having to settle for their three nil scoreline.

Kildare County: Flynn (McDonnell 74), Garry, Lawrence, Mooney, Issaka, Kinsella, Purcell, Murray, Farrell (Byrne 86), Brady, Lynch.

Shelbourne: Delaney Quigley, Brennan (McMillan 82), Doherty, Hedderman, McAllister (Cassidy 67), O'Brien, Doyle, Baker, Madden, Flood (Hynes 75).