- Patrick O'Connor
- Sat, May 06 2023
Patrick O’ Connor reports from Tolka Park
Shelbourne moved into the top four on Friday night with a narrow, but well deserved, 1-0 win over UCD in Tolka Park.
The win extends Shelbourne’s unbeaten run to seven games, with only Shamrock Rovers’ eleven game unbeaten run overshadowing the progress of Damien Duff’s side.
UCD for their part remain rooted to the bottom of the table and it does not get any easier for Andy Myler’s side as next up is the visit of Shamrock Rovers next weekend.
The Reds enjoyed 60 % of the possession in this game and the only cause for concern for manager Duff was the inability to turn it into more goals over the course of the 90 minutes.
This was due in no small part however to the excellence of the UCD defence where Jack Keaney was superb in the centre of that defence and man of the match Kian Moore outstanding as goalkeeper.
The home side did have excellent passages of play in the first half without any end product as both Matty Smyth and Jack Moylan were well marshalled by Keaney and his colleagues at the back for UCD.
The breakthrough when it did arrive came from the unlikely source of centre back Shane Griffin in the 39th minute.
UCD lost possession in their own half and when Evan Caffery picked out Griffin on the edge of the box, before the Corkman sent a dipping shot past Moore for his first league goal of the season.
The Reds tried to kill off the game with a second goal early in the second half but they found Moore in superb form and were unable to add to their lead.
Tyreke Wilson’s cross in the 56th minute was met with a powerful header by Moylan but Moore pulled off a stunning save by tipping it over the bar for a corner.
He later denied Matty Smyth whose snap shop was on target in the 77th minute and continued to frustrate Shelbourne as they piled on the pressure in the closing stages of the game.
The Students to their credit withstood the pressure and even caused a few scares in the Shelbourne box in extra time with Conor Kearns having to come to their rescue with a few top class saves of his own.
The three points was no more than Shelbourne deserved. Next up to the Reds is a trip to face another in form side in Sligo Rovers next weekend.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Andrew Quinn, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin, Tyreke Wilson (Kameron Ledwidge 66), JR Wilson, Evan Caffrey, JJ Lunney, Jad Hakiki (Kyle Robinson 72), Jack Moylan (Brian McManus 81), Matty Smith.
Subs not used: Scott Van der Sluis (GK), Luke Browne, David Toure, Gbemi Arubi. Lewis Temple, Luke Byrne.
Booked: Matty Smyth (87)
UCD: Kian Moore; Evan Osam, Jack Keaney, Adam Wells, Jess Dempsey (Luke O Regan 63) Michael Gallagher (Colin Bolton 71), Donal Higgins (Harry O Connor 55), Ciaran Behan, Danny Norris, Alex Nolan, Danu Kinsella-Bishop (Jake Doyle 63).
Subs not used: Lorcan Healy (GK), Ryan Bowden, Daniel Babb, Samuel Clarke, Daniel McCarthy.
Booked: None
Referee: Rob Harvey
Extratime.com Player of the Match: Kian Moore (UCD)
