Shelbourne boss Owen Heary said after his side’s 1-1 draw at home to UCD that he'd “be willing to sit down with the fans who are staying away from Tolka.” Just 410 souls were present to witness a battling performance from the home side, who stay in
Shelbourne boss Owen Heary said after his side’s 1-1 draw at home to UCD that he'd “be willing to sit down with the fans who are staying away from Tolka.”
Just 410 souls were present to witness a battling performance from the home side, who stay in fifth place, two points behind Cabinteely.
They could not have faulted the effort of Owen Heary’s charges, who created the majority of the stalemate’s chances.
Shels led from the 21st minute when Chris Lyons finished Adam Evans’ low cross to the net.
Goalkeeper Dean Delany, who made his 200th league appearance for the Reds, just failed to keep out Georgie Kelly’s second half header, but he had earlier foiled the 20-year-old striker when the latter was put through one on one by Niall Corbet’s long clearance.
Shels have won just two of their home league matches all season, which is clearly frustrating the Tolka Park faithful.
Heary introduced James English for Chris Lyons in the second half and the big No. 9 immediately made his presence felt. Shels top scorer might have grabbed the winner himself but was thwarted by Liam Scales’ full length tackle. English also set-up Adam Evans but Maxi Kouogun blocked Adams’ effort on the goalline.
Cobh Ramblers will be the next league visitors to Tolka Park. That’s in two weeks’ time. Meanwhile, Heary will take his men to the RSC to face high-flying Waterford in the FAI Cup. With the Reds’ away form better than their showings at Tolka, they may be capable of causing an upset.
Promotion hopes all but gone, UCD will be in Waterford themselves for league action in two weeks’ time. That will follow another away assignment, against UCD at Stradbrook in the FAI Cup next Friday night, where manager Collie O’Neill hopes that the Division’s top scorer Georgie Kelly will continue his scoring run.