Owen Heary's side returned to third spot in the First Division table with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Cobh Ramblers at Tolka Park. Shels laid out their intention from the start - creating chances right from the off. Their early pressure paid a hands
Owen Heary's side returned to third spot in the First Division table with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Cobh Ramblers at Tolka Park.
Shels laid out their intention from the start - creating chances right from the off. Their early pressure paid a handsome reward as early as the third minute when David O'Sullivan headed straight at Adam Mylod a cross into the centre of the box.
The keeper managed to keep his effort out but he could only parry the ball into the path of James English, who fired into the back of the net. The home side continued to stay on top with a cricket score looking like a genuine possibility.
However, they couldn't capitalise on their dominance and Cobh caught them by surprise with an equaliser in the 26th minute. Chris Hull tried his look from distance but fortune appeared to shine on the forward as Dean Delany was blinded by the sunlight streaming into his eyes, and the ball nestled into the bottom corner.
That goal saw the visitors grow into the game and create a string of great chances over the course of the next seven minutes. Once Shels had weathered the storm, however, they had the best chance during the remainder of the half with English heading just wide of the top corner seconds before the break.
The first quarter of the second half was an even affair with the home side perhaps just shading it. The game exploded into life in the 74th minute, however, when Alan Byrne expertly controlled a half-volley to steer into the corner of the net after Mylod had punched clear into his path.
Shels then went two goals ahead three minutes later after Karl Moore raced onto a ball into the box and rounded the keeper, only to be hauled down by Mylod. English was the man to step up and coolly slot into the bottom corner - securing all three points for his side in the process.
