Shelbourne 1
St. Patrick’ Athletic 0
BRENDAN GRAHAM reports from Tolka Park.
A POWERFUL FIRST-HALF header from Jaze Kabia was enough to see Shelbourne record a narrow 1-0 victory over Dublin rivals St. Pats this evening in front of an impressive crowd of 3,054 in Tolka Park.
Right from kick-off there was a real derby atmosphere with flares lit and not too many spare tickets around Tolka Park.
It was the visitors who managed to settle better into the game with the first chance of the game falling to striker Ronan Hale.
A chipped free kick on the edge of the box from Chris Forrester was met with a looping header from Hale but his aerial effort narrowly cleared the crossbar of Jack Brady early on.
It took the home side longer than they would have wished to settle into the game but as the first half progressed the experience of Sheppard, Deegan and Ryan Brennan in midfield began to show as Shelbourne began to find their composure and take their time when in possession of the ball.
They were equally as comfortable without the ball as the half wore on and Ian Morris would have been very happy with the hunger and intensity his side were showing to win the ball back as they looked for the opener.
On 10 minutes they had a great chance to take the lead. A deep corner from Karl Sheppard found its way all the way to Daniel O’Reilly at the back post but the defender couldn’t ‘keep his header on target and blazed over from close range.
The chance instilled a confidence in the home side and Kabia and Sheppard on wings for the home side began to cause St. Pats problems.
The impressive Kabia was asking plenty of questions of Saints skipper Ian Bermingham down the right wing and the home side were edging closer and closer to finding the breakthrough.
Their intensity and work rate to win the ball was really paying off as the half wore on with the instructions from the side line not to give the Pat’s players any time at all to settle.
On twenty three minutes, the St. Pat’s rear guard eventually succumbed to the huge wave of pressure that continued to come their way.
Another brilliant set piece from Sheppard was met with a powerful header from Jaze Kabia who shrugged off the close attention from Bermingham once more to give his side the lead.
No less than the home side deserved really with their superior intensity and will to win the ball helping them take the lead.
As the first half drew to a close, St. Pa’ts started to get on top with Shelbourne’s composure that they had displayed so valiantly up to then going missing completely.
With plenty of possession and the home side pinned inside their own half, St. Pat’s pushed hard for a goal with King and Forrester testing Brady late on but Brady stood tall and saved well on both occasions to keep the game at 1-0 heading in at the break.
Both managers made early enough changes to their sides as the second half began. George Poynton introduced by Ian Morris with Stephen O’Donnell bringing on James Doona and Martin Rennie as he looked to ease the midfield headache his side were struggling to overcome.
On the hour mark the away fans were sure their side had found their equaliser when a Bermingham corner was knocked back into the box by Darragh Markey, the helpless Brady was still on the ground from the initial corner but somehow managed to gather the ball and relieve the danger once more for the home side.
St. Pat’s were still well in the game as the second half progressed with Forrester looking dangerous anytime he got himself on the ball but their evening soon went from bad to worse.
Rory Feely who had picked up his first yellow early on the first half was shown his second of the evening and sent to the dressing room for what was deemed to be a cynical challenge and tangle of legs as Dobbs advanced towards goal.
Shelbourne’s extra man was telling immediately with Karl Sheppard enjoying lots of space on the wing and another sublime delivery from Sheppard almost led to a second for the home side.
His perfectly-timed cross was met by the head of striker Aaron Dobbs but he sees his header crash back off the crossbar and out of play for a goal kick.
Forrester had a late effort from distance for St. Pat’s but once again the impressive Jack Brady watched it all the way and in the end made an easy save.
It has been a long wait but the home fans really enjoyed this one with Shelbourne holding on for the five minutes of additional time to record an impressive 1-0 victory over their Dublin rivals.
Shelbourne: Jack Brady; Aidan Friel, Daniel O’Reilly, Oscar Brennan; Shane Farrell (George Poynton 51), Alex O’Hanlon, Gary Deegan, Ryan Brennan, Jaze Kabia (Dayle Rooney 81); Karl Sheppard, Aaron Dobbs
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Rory Feely, Ian Bermingham (Jake Walker 81), Lee Desmond, Luke McNally; Chris Forrester, Darragh Markey, Billy King, Jason McClelland (James Doona 61); Ronan Hale (Martin Rennie 62), Dean Clarke
Referee: Sean Grant
Attendance: 3054
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Hopefully the trio make it! They are an integral part of our Six Nations squad. Keep it up lads!!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: lowe and Dan are part of the 6 nations squad but connors is nowhere near that squad. Hodnet, timoney, pendergast are all way ahead of him. Not to mention with conan going to 8 we have doris who can play 7 as can POM. Infact I’d rather see Scott penny get time for leinster than will.
@chris mcdonnell: I completely agree. I’d ate my own underpants if Connors is named tomorrow
@Niall Boyle: hopefully those pants are in better condition than the pair I wore on Sunday
@Niall Boyle: I’ll hold you to that
@chris mcdonnell: with the best will in the world POM cannot play 7 in the 6 Nations.
Hope they don’t rush Sheehan back this Saturday. 50 mins against the Stormers on the 25th of Jan and then into the 6 nations squad. Connors now needs to stay fit for the rest of the season if he wants to ever make an Ireland squad, at nearly 29 time is running out
Lowe is too slow. Osborne a better long term bet.
@conor carroll: Osbourne isn’t a wing, he can do the job but he’s a 12 or 15. Lowe being “slow” didn’t stop him being named in the world XV this year or being one of our best performing players.
@conor carroll: not on the wing he isnt,hes not a winger and it showed on sunday,great 12 and 15,lowe though offers far more on the left wing,breaks tackles,carries,big left boot and has vastly improved his defence,also always goes hunting for the ball and gets stuck in to mauls and excellent under the high ball,pace is not everything.
@conor carroll: Interesting statement. If you actually watched rugby you’d see that Lowe is probably quicker than Osborne in a foot race. Osborne has many, many strengths. Pace isn’t one of them.
@conor carroll: Nash is the pace merchant played all the 6 nations last year
Honestly, is Lowe still a starter for Leinster? I just really can’t see how you leave out Jamie Osborne even if he was rusty on the wing at the weekend, like his skill level for that try was ridiculous. He also has just a big left boot as Lowe.
@Eoin H: lowe is the left winger for both ireland and leinster.
@Eoin H: Osborne isn’t a winger and should only be playing there in a pinch. Lowe is also the better player generally right now
@Gary D: He definitely isn’t the better all round player generally, no way
@Eoin H: Well he has been a starter for the last 7.5 years. And he was a starter right up until his injury. Osborne is far far better utilised at 12 or 15. Let’s just play lads in their correct positions.
@Eoin H: I partially agree with you. Osbourne has an ability to hold on to passes that others would knock on and is too good to leave out of the team. Lowe is a try scoring machine as well though so not sure I’d leave him out either. I’d probably play Osbourne at 12 and leave Henshaw on the bench for impact