Salthill Devon 0 - 1 Shelbourne

• Gareth Penrose
• Sun, May 08 2011


In a windswept and rain soaked Drom, Shelbourne re-ascended to the top of the Airtricity First Division courtesy of a 70th minute strike by midfielder David Cassidy. In a game that contradicted the assumption that top versus bottom in a league should be a foregone conclusion, Salthill Devon battled hard and manager Paul McGee will be disappointed to end his first game in charge pointless.

Both sides made two changes from their previous league outings, Salthill Devon included Colm Horgan and Luke McConnell in the starting eleven, with Cian McBrien and Ronan Conlon dropping to the bench. Shels replaced an injured Stephen Paisley with Lorcan Fitzgerald whilst Gareth Mathews came in for Sean Byrne.

It was the visitors that got off to the more impressive start, and with only five minutes gone Barry Clancy crossed from the left and an in-flight David McGill somehow directed his header wide of the open goal when scoring appeared the easier option. Shelbourne continued to dominate possession and the play for the first 20 minutes whilst failing to convert their superiority into goals.

Salthill's first chance of the game arrived on the 22nd minute when Romanian national Ciprian Straut saw his shot go high and over. Whilst this was only a half chance, it signalled a change in the balance of the game. Moments later the home crowd would have been forgiven for thinking their side was about to take the lead rather than the miss the opportunity developed into. Again Straut was the man involved but he somehow managed to pull his shot wide when a goal seemed certain.

In what was a very entertaining and open first period, both sides traded chances whilst failing to make any progress on the score sheet.

With the introduction of the second half, so came the dark skies, and with the floodlights switched on, it also signalled the heavens to open and create a bleak backdrop for the second forty five.

Just like the opening moments of the first half, Shels started the more lively with chances falling to David McGill, David Cassidy and Philly Hughes. With 64 minutes gone, Shels once again had a gilt edge chance to take the lead. Barry Clancy's cross was met by the onrushing Hughes but his header from close range was totally misdirected and the ball fired high and over the bar.

The goal did eventually come to the Dublin side. After a move that saw substitute Chris Mulhall fire a header against the crossbar, the resulting scramble saw the Salthill keeper Ronan Forde clash into a Shels player. When the crossed ball arrived at the feet of David Cassidy, he made no mistake in giving Shelbourne the lead.

Salthill Devon didn't wilt and they went seeking an equaliser, with Frenchman Etanda Nkololo involved in a number of good moves. A headed chance for James Whelan on 76 minutes, and a 25 yard shot by Eugene Greaney on 81 failed to alter the scoreline and after four minutes of injury time, referee Dave McKeon, returning from a long spell out injured, blew for full time.

The result leaves Salthill on the foot of the table, however the manner of their performance on the night will give heart to McGee for the rest of the games ahead. Shelbourne move three points clear at the summit setting up an exciting clash in Tolka Park on Friday as second place Cork City come to visit.

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Gearoid O'Leidhinn, Colm Horgan, Cian Fadden, James Whelan; Ciprian Straut, Eugene Greaney, Luke McConnell (Cian McBrien 78'), Daniel Rupa (Ronan Conlon 58'); Etanda Nkololo (Brian Gaffney 84'), Victor Collins.
Subs not used: Paddy Quinlan, Timmy Molloy, Gerry Dolan, Ronan Burke
Bookings: Victor Collins 88'.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Andrew Boyle, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Gareth Mathews, Ian Ryan; Barry Clancy (Conan Byrne 77'), David Cassidy (Ray Scully 89'), David McGill, Colm James (Chris Mulhall 58'), Brendan McGill; Philip Hughes
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Sean Byrne, Kevin Dawson, John Sullivan
Bookings: David Cassidy 67'

extratime.ie Man of the Match: No real outstanding player over the 90 minutes, so for scoring the goal, David Cassidy gets it.

Referee: Dave McKeon

Attendance: 120 (estimate).