Conor Keeley: 'We're delighted with the win, but I don't know how we won that.'

Andrew Dempsey reports from Stradbrook Park

Cabinteely secured a rather fortuitous 1-0 Dublin Derby success over Shelbourne who will be cursing their luck after dominating for much of the game on Friday evening.

While Kieran Marty Waters will grab the headlines for his winner, along with Stephen McGuinness for his penalty save, it was the defensive heroics of Conor Keeley that proved decisive as Cabo survived a barrage of Shelbourne pressure.

Speaking after the game with extratime.ie, the ex-Shels centre back admitted that he was at a loss as to how the Reds couldn’t find a way past the Cabinteely defence.   

“We’re delighted with the win, but I don’t know how we won that,” the 21-year-old said.   

“At a minimum, Shels deserved a point. I don’t know how they didn’t score at least three or four but sometimes you get that luck – we did tonight – and we’re delighted with the win.

With his two clearances off the line proving key, the Irish Colleges and Universities international noted that, while the personal praise is always welcomed, the collective effort is always paramount.

“It was two clearances off the line. That’s my job at the end of the day but I’m just pleased to get that win on the board and get three points on the board again.”

Keeley added: “When you play in front of big crowds it’s always good [like tonight].

“It’s a small club we have here, we don’t get the biggest of crowds but when Shels come, they bring a good crowd and it’s always a good buzz.

“The atmosphere tonight was brilliant, and I thought both teams rose to it.”

Next up for Pat Devlin’s unlikely side is a trip to top-of-the-table Longford Town at City Calling Stadium on Saturday week.

With the clash pitting first versus second in the table, the towering centre-back revealed that he is relishing the trip to Midlands while also being very wary of the threats posed by Neale Fenn’s side.

He said: “In my opinion, Longford are the best team in the league at the moment. They play brilliant football, and I thought they were unlucky down here when we ground out a point.

“Saying that, we’re looking forward to it, we’re in good form away from home and we’re looking forward to going down there.”