League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Shelbourne

• Fran Reilly
• Thu, Mar 19 2015




CABINTEELY FC

The season of firsts continues at Stradbrook as Cabinteely face Shelbourne for the first time in the League of Ireland. Eddie Gormley's side have gotten off to a better start than most predicted before the season began, winning two and losing one of their opening three competitive games.

 

Having beaten Wexford Youths at home and UCD away (in the EA Sports Cup) without conceding, Cabo were beaten 2-0 by Finn Harps in Ballybofey last week. They never really settled into the game on a bumpy surface at Finn Park and struggled to fashion many chances of note in difficult conditions. The Southsiders will be eager to get back to winning ways in their first game at Stradbrook since their historic opening day victory over Youths.

 

With no team news available at the time of writing, it remains to be seen whether or not Gormley will tinker with his approach to the Shels game having started with the same XI for Cabo's opening two First Division matches: Evan Whelan; Aaron Brilly, Robert Maloney, Victor Ekanem, Jamie McGlynn; Shane O'Neill, John McKeown, Evan Finnegan, Kevin Knight; Jordan Buckley; Ger Pender.

 

SHELBOURNE FC

Shelbourne come into this game having yet to concede a competitive goal in 2015. Their opening day goalless stalemate with Finn Harps at Tolka Park was followed up with 1-0 wins over Premier Division Drogheda United in the EA Sports Cup and UCD at Belfield in their second league game.

 

Maintaining this impressive defensive record against Cabinteely at Stradrbook will be made more difficult for the Reds as they have something of a mini-crisis at the back heading into the game, with Paul Andrews, Adam O'Connor and Simon Dixon all out injured.

 

However, with Daire Doyle, Evan Osam, Sean Heaney, Ryan Robinson and Alan Kehoe available for selection, Kevin Doherty will be confident that whatever backline he puts out will be up to the job. It is at the other end where the Reds boss will have more concern, as Shels have only scored two goals in their opening three games – with one of those coming from Heaney.

 

Going into the third round of games in the First Division, Doherty's side are one of four teams on four points, with Shels themselves sitting in fourth place in the table due to an inferior goal difference. Though Doherty was pleased with the manner of the victory over UCD last week, he felt his side were worth more goals and rued the performance of Students' 'keeper Niall Corbet.

 

“I was delighted with the win at UCD. Once we settled into the game, we played well, creating chances and would have been ahead earlier in the game were it not for some good goalkeeping by their 'keeper,” Doherty told ShelbourneFC.ie. “Sean [Heaney] took his goal well from Jake's [Donnelly] corner kick and we could have doubled the score close to the end.


“We have watched Cabinteely and know it will not be easy. We will prepare well and approach the game as any other,” Doherty added of Shels' next opponents.


With no suspensions, the only other concern for the Tolka Park outfit is midfielder Craig Walsh who is a doubt through injury.

 

Referee: Michael O'Connor.

 

 

MATCH STATS

This will be the first time these two sides have ever faced each other in the League of Ireland, and it will be Shels' first ever football match in Stradbrook.

 

Reds manager Kevin Doherty was known as something of a defensive stalwart in his playing days and early indications suggest this is a trait he has passed onto the current crop of defenders at the club – Shels have yet to concede a goal in three competitive games in 2015.

 

Cabinteely won their first two games as a League of Ireland club without conceding a goal before losing 2-0 to Finn Harps in Ballybofey last week, though they have still to concede a competitive goal in Dublin after keeping cleansheets against Wexford Youths at home and UCD in Belfield.


Cabo boss Eddie Gormley had a very successful playing career in the League of Ireland, but one of his low points came against Shels in the 1996 FAI Cup final replay at Dalymount Park. With the score at 1-1 and only ten minutes left on the clock, the Saints were awarded a penalty. Gormley stepped up to take it but his effort was saved by Alan Gough, who had been cleared to appear in the replay having been sent off after 18 minutes of the original tie. One minute after Gormley's miss, Stephen Geoghegan scored the winner for Shels and Pat's famed FAI Cup hoodoo would continue until 2014.

 

 

BETTING

Cabinteely FC 7/1; Draw 16/5; Shelbourne 4/11.

 

PREDICTION

Cabinteely FC 1-2 Shelbourne

 

 

Cabinteely FC

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

 

Shelbourne FC

Injured: Paul Andrews, Adam O'Connor and Simon Dixon.

Doubtful: Craig Walsh.

Suspended: None.