- Rónán MacNamara
- Fri, Sep 27 2024
Ronan MacNamara reporting from Tolka Park
Shelbourne moved four points clear at the top of the Premier Division, but questions remain as to who will take control of the title race as the clock ticks towards the end of the campaign.
A scoreless draw with Sligo leaves the Reds with just one win in eight games, but they were the big winners on the night after Derry City and Shamrock Rovers were both beaten.
In an entertaining stalemate, both sides will feel they should have won, but both goalkeepers were in top form, with Ed McGinty and Conor Kearns proving why they are two of the best in the country.
McGinty was alert to deny Ali Coote early in the first half, while Kearns pulled off sensational stops in both halves to prevent Luke Pearce and Ollie Denham.
There was a clash of styles, with Shelbourne opting to go long for Sean Boyd to great effect, while Sligo were happy to counter-attack.
The hosts did everything but score in the first half. Wood threaded a ball through the eye of a needle to Coote, whose effort was smothered by McGinty.
Sligo immediately went up the other end and brought the best out of Shelbourne stopper Kearns, who made a superb save with his feet to deny Pearce from close range.
Shelbourne will wonder how they didn’t break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time. Wood was the architect again, setting up Martin, who rattled the inside of the near post as the ball miraculously stayed out before the whistle sounded for the break.
The second half began with Boyd knocking a long ball down to Martin, before John O’Sullivan found Boyd at the back post, and he should have headed on target from inside the six-yard box.
Sligo then went up the other end, and Denham was stunned to see his header clawed off the goal line by Kearns in what was the Bit O’ Red’s best opportunity.
Both sides were chasing a winner that would have been crucial for their respective end-of-season objectives, but neither could find the opener.
Will Fitzgerald’s first-time effort from distance whistled past the post before Liam Burt spurned a glorious opportunity with his first touch, seconds after coming on in the 70th minute.
Frustration and desperation were palpable around Tolka Park, with Damien Duff pleading with the fans to get behind the team rather than groan at the number of overhit crosses delivered into the area.
Duff’s rallying cry was to no avail, as Sligo saw out the draw comfortably in the end. This result keeps all options open in both the title race and the battle for European places.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Patrick Barrett, Shane Griffin, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Alistair Coote (Liam Burt 70), Mark Coyle, John O'Sullivan (Evan Caffrey 62), Harry Wood (Matthew Smith 82); Sean Boyd, John Martin (Aiden O'Brien 62).
Subs not used: Lorcan Healy, Taylor McCarthy, Rayhaan Tulloch, Dean Williams, Dan Ring.
Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty; Ollie Denham, Reece Hutchinson, John Ross Wilson; Ellis Chapman, William Fitzgerald, Jack Henry Francis, Connor Malley, Niall Morahan, Simon Power (Kyle McDonagh 88); Luke Pearce (Kailin Barlow 78).
Subs not used: Richard Brush, Charlie Wiggett, Daire Patton, Stefan Radosavljević, Owen Elding, Shea Malone, Gareth McElroy.
Referee: . Paul McLaughlin
Attendance: 4125
extratime.com Player of the Match: Conor Kearns
