Dublin Bus 0 - 2 Shelbourne

• Gerry McCann
• Sat, Jun 05 2010


As shadows lengthened on a warm summer’s eve by the Tolka referee Rob Rogers blew his whistle to put an end to Dublin Bus’ dream of going all the way in the FAI Ford Cup.

In truth the busmen never looked likely to emulate the feat of fellow Leinster Senior League side, Crumlin Utd, who knocked Shels out of this competition last season. However a replay was not out of the question until the eighty-ninth minute when substitute Dinny Corcoran doubled Shelbourne’s lead with a calmly slotted shot from the edge of the box after being set free by a perfectly weighted Mark Hughes pass.

Shelbourne had to battle for the first half hour in which there was no apparent gulf in class between the sides. Both teams had half chances; bustling busman Philip Sheppard saw his long range effort sail over the bar on four minutes; while Jason Kelly’s left footed shot from twenty five yards was an easy gather for Delany in the Shels goal.

Gorman was working hard at the other end and on nine minutes had a good chance of an opener but his tame shot from a tricky angle was comfortably saved by Dublin Bus keeper Declan Woods.

Nearing the quarter hour Foley, who looked bright throughout, played a lovely one two with Cassidy but placed his shot wide of the far post.

The same player was narrowly wide of Woods’ left hand post with a good attempt three minutes later.

By the half way mark in the first period the amateurs appeared to be running out of steam. Doyle tripped Hughes and having already been warned for use of the arm on Cassidy, received a yellow card.

Shels started to move the ball about better as more space opened up. On the half hour Byrne’s cross was headed wide by centre half Ian Ryan. Then on thirty three minutes the pressure told when Foley knocked the ball to Mark Hughes whose pass left Gorman with a tap in from all of two foot.

Cassidy was having hamstring problems and made way for nineteen year old Adalberto Pinto on thirty nine minutes.

Four minutes after the restart Eric Foley struck a free crisply which Woods managed to palm wide for a corner.

On fifty seven minutes Dublin Bus brought on Eoin Lannigan for Jason Kelly and he played up front as a third striker along with Sheppard and Doyle.

Pinto was looking lively for Shels showing quick feet and good touch down the right with Foley playing a more central role. Pinto received a long pass in acres of space and skipped towards goal, only to strike his shot straight at a grateful Declan woods.

A minute later Dublin Bus had their best chance of the night when, following a corner, the ball fell to Man of the Match Wayne Byrne who shot narrowly over from ten yards.

The small but vociferous Dublin Bus following sensed it could yet be their night and as the Airtricity League side let the tempo drop the Neilstown outfit played with renewed passion. It was all huff and puff with no end result however and when Graham Doyle left the pitch, with beads of sweat bubbling on his brow, to make way for Carl Laffin, one sensed the chance of an equaliser had passed.

Corcoran wrapped it up with his late goal and Shelbourne progress to the Fourth Round with this victory in Collie O’Neill’s first FAI Cup game as caretaker manager.

Dublin Bus: Woods; P.Mahon, Flood, Byrne, Derwin; Geoff Doyle, Tougher (C. Mahon 85), Maher, Kelly (Lanigan, 57); Sheppard, Graham Doyle (Laffin 76).
Subs not used: Notaro, N. Clarke, Rountree, O’Hara
Bookings: Geoff Doyle, P. Mahon

Shelbourne: Delaney; Scully, Byrne, Ryan, Whelan; Shiels, McGill, Cassidy (Pinto 39 (Corcoran 85)), Foley; Gorman (Leech 72), Hughes.
Subs not used: Clarke, Coburn, O’Reilly, Williams

extratime.ie Man of the Match: Wayne Byrne.

Referee: Mr Rob Rogers

Attendance: 556.