Goals the problem Shels need to rectify

The off-season at Shelbourne has seen many comings and goings, with new Shelbourne boss Kevin Doherty revamping his frontline completely – out have gone Lee Murtagh, Lee Duffy, Conor Murphy and Darren Tinnelly, with Reds hero Philly Hughes and Shamrock Rovers under 19 product Mark Sanford coming in, with Alan O'Sullivan re-signing for another year.

Although the Reds came close to bouncing back into the Premier Division at the first attempt under Johnny McDonnell last season, this was despite their strikers hitting the target regularly. In truth, Shelbourne owed many of their results to the goals of winger Dylan Connolly, who bagged 12 from 24 starts in the league – form which prompted former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy to take Connolly to Ipswich Town in the off-season.

The 19 year old was the only Shels player to hit double-figures last season, with fellow winger Gareth Coughlan (seven goals) and midfielder Jordan Keegan (five) Shels' next two highest goalscorers across all competitions in 2014. Both players have re-signed for Doherty this season.

In fact, Connolly alone was only one goal short of matching the return of six forwards who played for the Reds last season:

Lee Murtagh: 24 appearances in all competitions (9 as a sub) - 2 goals.

Conor Murphy: 25 (4) – 4 goals.
Darren Tinnelly: 15(6) – 3 goals.
Michael Duffy: 5(5) – 0 goals (departed the club in June 2014).
Lee Duffy: 10(8) – 2 goals (joined the club in July 2014).

Alan O'Sullivan 10(2) – 2 goals (joined the club in July 2014).

Total for Shelbourne forwards in 2014: 84 (34): 13 goals.

The scoring slack in the front-line was picked up by players from all around the pitch – a total of 20 different players scored for the Reds in all competitions last season. With Shels the bookies' favourites to win the division, more of the same will be expected by the fans – but having a 15-20 goal a season striker is a necessity for Shels, particularly with the departure of Connolly.

Which is why the return of Philly Hughes has been greeted with much excitement at Tolka Park. Though his second spell at the club ended dourly – Hughes departed on loan to St. Patrick's Athletic in July 2013 having gone 17 games without a goal – he is still fondly remembered for scoring 20 goals in 30 games which helped get the Reds promoted in 2011.

He also scored 11 goals the following season to help Alan Mathews' side to a comfortable eighth placed finish on their return to the Premier Division, while his deft finish in the 2011 FAI Cup final against Sligo Rovers is a classic example of what Hughes will add – a poacher's instinct.

The 33 year old has endured a rough time since leaving Tolka, making only one appearance for Pat's and failing to set the Premier Division alight in subsequent spells at Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers – but Reds boss Doherty has no doubt about the ability of the well-travelled striker, who has already netted his first goal since his re-return to the club, a penalty in a 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat to Shamrock Rovers.

“Philly will get you goals, there's no doubt about it,” Doherty told Extratime.ie at the SSE Airtricity League launch last Friday. “I know he gets stick from supporters about the size of him, but he's fit, he's in good nick and Philly scores goals, he has a great record – I think he's in the top 20 of the all-time League of Ireland goalscorers list. Anybody would want him in their team.

“As well as for the playing side, I brought him in thinking the likes of Mark Sandford and Alan O'Sullivan can learn stuff off him,” added Doherty. “He has that little bit of know-how and experience. But the gloves are off with him, I'll be looking for him to score goals – that'll be his main job, the main task that I'll be giving him.”

O'Sullivan arrived at the midpoint of last season after a spell with SPFL side Aberdeen. Doherty believes he will benefit from the experience of the last campaign in which his highlight was scoring against St. Patrick's Athletic in the third round of the FAI Cup at Richmond Park. The 19 year old has already netted in pre-season, in a 2-2 draw with Longford Town.

Shels fans will remember Sandford from the Shamrock Rovers B team last season – the 19 year old netted his only two goals of the campaign at Tolka Park as the Reds nearly threw away a three goal lead to Colin Hawkins' team.

A product of the Hoops' under 19 side, Sandford has the record for most goals in a single game at U19 level after scoring five times against Salthill Devon in an 11 minute spell during a 7-0 win for Rovers in February 2014. Sandford has also netted for Shels in pre-season, his goal coming in a 3-1 defeat to Sligo Rovers.