Shelbourne 2 - 0 University College Dublin

Goals from Adam Hanlon and Stephen Hurley gave Shelbourne a vital victory over UCD in Tolka Park on Friday night.

A relegation six-pointer was on the cards in Drumcondra when Shels and UCD faced off and the opening exchanges reflected the type of game that this was as both teams looked quite nervous on the ball and struggled to create any opening.

Sean Brennan clipped a free-kick straight into the wall after eight minutes when he probably should have worked the ‘keeper.

The next 12 minutes were without incident until UCD came very close to going in front courtesy of Seán Russell. A deflected shot from Craig Walsh gave the Students a corner. The ball was played into the front post where it was met by Russell with a low header, forcing Pat Flynn to clear off the line.

UCD looked to be getting on top of the game. That was until Adam Hanlon picked up the ball 25 yards from the UCD goal. After turning nicely the former Bray Wanderers man unleashed a powerful low drive with his left foot to give Shels to lead. Ger Barron perhaps could have done better with the shot but Hanlon didn’t mind as he wheeled away in celebration.

As the rain began to fall the game went a bit flat in terms of chances created. Both teams were cancelling each other out at the back in two good defensive displays. Sean Brennan hit the wall with another free-kick before UCD treated us to a demonstration of a very efficient training ground move that came to nothing in the end, but was nice to look at.

Both sides were probably glad to get into the dressing rooms at half-time as the rain began to come down very heavily.

The rain abated just in time for the second half leaving the surface nice and slick. David McMillan went close soon after the restart when his vicious drive took Ger Hanley two attempts to get it under control.

Shels began to press in the following stages and it paid off after 57 minutes when Stephen Hurley curled the ball over the keeper from 25 yards into the top corner.

Minutes later the home fans were celebrating what they thought was a penalty for their side. Referee Graham Kelly had other ideas however as he booked Craig Mooney for diving in the UCD box. He certainly went down dramatically but there did seem to be some contact.

The second goal seemed to hurt UCD as they struggled to create anything after it. Although they pushed men forward the Shels defence was holding out well along with good work from Hurley and Flynn in midfield.

Aside from a flurry of corners and an effort that went over the bar from Thomas Boyle, UCD didn’t really threaten any sort of comeback allowing Shels to hold on for a comfortable victory that moves them ahead of the college side and into tenth place.

Shelbourne: Ger Hanley; Robert Cornwall, Ian Ryan, Brian Shorthall, Jack Memery; Adam Hanlon (Stephen Sheerin 90+1), Pat Flynn, Stephen Hurley, Craig Mooney (Alex Prizeman 71), Seán Brennan; Mark Leech (Philly Hughes 76).
Subs not used: Eoin Comerford, Graham Gartland, Adam O’Connor, Darren Tinnelly.

Booked: Craig Mooney (63).

UCD: Ger Barron; Hugh Douglas, David O’Connor,Thomas Boyle, Gareth Matthews (James Kavanagh 86); Gary Burke (Dean Clarke 46), Robbie Creevy, Robbie Benson, Craig Walsh (Dinny Corcoran 63), Sean Russell; David McMillan.
Subs not used: Conor O’Donnell; Barry McCabe, Cillian Morrison, Samir Belhout.

Booked: None.

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 735.

Extratime.ie man of the match: Adam Hanlon (Shelbourne) - He scored Shels’ first goal and was a constant threat down the left-wing.