Report: Shelbourne 2 - 0 Athlone Town

A brace from Anthony Flood saw Shelbourne overcome Athlone Town at Tolka Park on Friday night. Flood put the hosts ahead before Alan Byrne was given his marching orders for a foul on Dave O’Dowd. Floods second came before Davy Byrne followed Byrne down the tunnel late on.

Over eight hundred fans braved the elements to see Flood double his tally for the season, however David McGill might feel unfortunate not to have scored the opener in the fourth minute. From a James Keddy free, David Freeman rolled it to McGill on the edge of the box only to see his rasping shot cannon of the crossbar, bounce on the line and then out of the goal.

Athlone as an attacking force were beyond impotent in the first forty-five minutes and their first shot on target came at the end of the half when Philip Reilly saw his ambitious effort fumbled wide by Dean Delaney. In the preceding forty-five minutes it was only Shels’ who ventured forward with Chambers, instated at right back for the night, enjoying time and space down the wing.

The opener came about from an incredible Damien Brennen cross. Brennan, crossing on his left foot, somehow managed to find Flood at the back post, who did excellently to get the better of Robbie Hamm, and coolly slotted the ball past the keeper. The goal was well deserved and many expected more to come after the break.

The second half, though, saw Athlone actually start to play attacking football and from one of their counter attacks O’Dowd got in behind the defence. Realising the danger, Byrne dragged him to the ground and received his marching orders. O’Dowd and Hamm enjoyed far more space in the second half however never really looked threatening.

However on the hour mark it looked like Athlone scored an unlikely equaliser. Reilly did well down the left his low cross got stuck under Eric Levine’s feet giving Brennan time to clear however it dropped to Colm Jinks eight yards out. An array of red shirts dove to block the shot and scupper any chance Athlone had of drawing level.

It was Shels’ who struck next moments later after Shels’ won a free kick on the right hand side of Athlone’s half. Keddy played it to Freeman who glanced the ball to the waiting Flood in front of goal whose finish was clinical.

The second goal rocked Athlone who struggled to create anything likely to get them back in the game. Two poor tackles in the next ten minutes by Davy Byrne, the second being high and hard on McGill, gave the referee no option but to send him down the tunnel.

That allowed time for one more attack for Shels’ as Flood and Keddy found themselves attacking one defender. Flood, on a hat trick, unselfishly played in Keddy on goals however Ciaran Kelly did excellently to dive at his feet just before he pulled the trigger.

McGill and Mark O’Brien dictated the pace of the game from start to finish and their partnership, brought about by Greg O’Halloran’s suspension, looked more effective than anything the home side has seen this season. It will be interesting to see if O’Halloran returns at the expense of either.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; James Chambers, Alan Byrne, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; David McGill, Mark O’Brien, James Keddy; David Freeman, Philip Hughes (Dean Lawrence 58), Anto Flood.
Subs not used: Fred Davis Jnr., Mark Rutherford, Alan Mulcahy, Keith Dunne.

Sent Off: A Byrne (55).

Athlone Town: Ciaran Kelly; Ian Rossiter, Des Hope, Nigel Keady, Philip Reilly; Colm Jinks, Robbie Hamm (Padraig Moran 65), David Byrne, Jason McCartney; Eric Levine, David O’Dowd.

Subs not used: Lee Gaffey, Anthony Hayes, Levi Tierney, Niall Scullion.

Booked: D Byrne.
Sent Off: D Byrne (78).

Referee: Derek Tomney.
Attendance: 814.
Man of the Match: Anthony Flood (Shelbourne). Two Goals make it an easy decision.