Mervue United 1 - 2 Shelbourne

• Diarmuid Kelly
• Fri, Mar 25 2011


Shelbourne withstood a late onslaught from Mervue United to come away with all three points from Fahy's Field and maintained their 100% record in the First Division this year.

David Cassidy and Stephen Paisley were the goalscorers for the visitors, who have the solid performance of 'keeper Dean Delany to thank for their slender win. Rory Gaffney capped a fine display with a goal for the hosts, who will count themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the game given their dominance for large periods of the game.

Mervue made the better start to the game with two early chances that, if they had been taken, would have changed the game entirely. Jason Molloy firstly sent a stinging low drive goalward but directly into the clutches of Dean Delaney in the Shelbourne net.

Delany was called into action again a mere three minutes later when Gaffney capitalised on some poor defensive play to find himself one on one with the Dubliners 'keeper, but after out-running Andy Boyle, Gaffney couldn’t beat Delany.

Mervue were made to rue these missed chances, as Shels made easy work of their first real chance of the game. Conan Byrne collected the ball with his back to the Mervue goal 25 yards out and after a quick turn he found the perfectly timed run of Cassidy, who made no mistake from 16 yards out and slotted the ball into the Mervue net.

Suddenly Shels found themselves in a lead completely against the run of play. Mervue weren’t to crumble, however, and reasserted their dominance in the possession stakes. They couldn’t make the possession count, however, and the visitors in turn created further chances on the break.

Philip Hughes twice came close, once with a free kick that tested Gerard Hanley in the Mervue net, and then again in the final minutes of the half with a great effort. After cutting in from the left and beating two defenders, Hughes fierce drive just cleared the angle with Hanley rooted to the ground.

At the resumption of the action the hosts came out to the pitch with more intent on penetrating the Shelbourne defence. Tom King and Molloy both found themselves in scoring positions but couldn’t find the target. The excellent Gaffney, however, would not let another chance slip his grasp and duly found the target from David Goldbey's deep cross, his header careering in off the post after 53 minutes.

The game was now beginning to open up and chances started to come thick and fast. Cassidy should have reclaimed the Shelbourne lead when he found himself one on one with Hanley but his weak lob was easily registered by the Mervue stopper.

King, too, for Mervue wasted a glorious chance for Johnny Glynn's side, firing into the body of Delany in the visitors goal when a foot either side would surely have seen the net ripple.

Shelbourne began to up the pace again even further in search of the dominance that Mervue had evened out. This pressure yielded a goal on 65 minutes when Stephen Paisley rose highest to meet Brendan McGill's cross and head to the corner.

Mervue would argue against fortune on an evening when they had most of the possession but couldn’t find another breakthrough. Molloy and King were particularly unfortunate not to find the net with both finding themselves on the end of good Mervue moves. Mike Tierney hit the post too with a header in the final minutes as the home pressure built.

Shelbourne held strong however and continue their 100% record in this year's league. Mervue will take solace in a good display, but will need to be more ruthless in future.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Nicky Curran, Marc Ludden (Peter Dravins, 92), Martin Conneely, Eric Browne; Kevin Crehan, Mike Tierney, Tom King, Jason Molloy; Rory Gaffney, David Goldbey (James Casserly, 75).
Subs not used: Mike Elwood, David O’Brien, Noel Varley, Mike Collins, TJ Forde (GK).

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Ian Ryan (Colm James, 73), Barry Clancy, Andy Boyle, Stephen Paisley; Kevin Dawson. David McGill, David Cassidy; Philip Hughes (Karl Bermingham, 87), Conan Byrne (Chris Mulhall, 62), Brendan McGill.
Subs Not Used: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Gareth Mathews, John Sullivan, Paul Skinner (GK).

extratime Man of the Match: Dean Delany (Shelbourne).

Referee: John McLaughlin.