Cork City 2-1 Shelbourne

Shels Supreme

Prior to this weekend's fixtures and despite an impressive unbeaten run almost half-way into the league campaign, Shelbourne were still been labelled by many as 2nd or 3rd best in the title race, due mainly to their failing to score regularly and to put away opponents. In Turners Cross on Sunday, the Real Reds finally fulfilled all expectations, as they turned in a powerful and classy performance to overrun the nearly-men of National League football - Cork City. Forget the scoreline that flatters the home side; Shels completely dominated exchanges, particularly in the first half, as they tore into the Corkmen right from the kick-off.

Following last week's reverse in Inchicore, Cork City were again rocked on their heels as Shels opened the game in top gear and goalie Phil Harrington was pressed into early service. Richie Baker was put through by Stephen Geoghegan with only the keeper to beat, but Harrington came out and made a fine block to deny the youngster. Richie again went close, this time with a header from a corner, as the one-way traffic towards the City goal continued. Inevitably, when the goal came - it was a peach. Dessie Baker, having his best game this season, found Paul Doolin on the left, he spotted Richie coming in from the right and he threaded through a masterly pass to the under / 21 international, who coolly slotted the ball past his marker, Cronin, for a deserved lead goal.

With Cork City just surviving on scraps of possession at this stage, their keeper was playing a starring role to deny the rampant Reds. From a corner on the right, former Shelsman Skippy Morely, blazed in a scorching shot which William brilliantly palmed over for another corner kick, this time from left. Reminiscent of their early-season fallibility from set pieces, the Shels defence was marked absent when Liam O'Brien nodded the ball on from the near post to veteran striker Johnny Caulfied, who also went unchallenged, for his equalising header.

Half-time, and Shels were still the stronger side as they pressed on to find a second goal. Playing some superb ground passing football, Doolin played the ball inside to Richie Baker, received the return, which he then laid off in front of Geogho to side-foot into the net. A breathtaking goal - which silenced the normally vociferous Sheddies ! Geoghegan almost trumped that goal, when after Fenlon had hooked a clearance from deep in defence to the hard-working Dessie Baker, he raced clear on to a through pass and gamely realising that he hadn't 'the legs', he struck an amazing long-range shot that only just thumped off the top right-hand upright, to rebound for a second chance that he could only flash wide across the goals.

Dave Barry, with nothing to lose, brought on Flanagan and Glynn and went 3-4-3 in a last ditch attempt to get something from the game. Keely countered with the introduction of Dave Campbell for the tiring Keddy ( who picked up a knock in a possible 'peno' incident when he was sandwiched between the keeper and a defender ) and van der Velden for Doolin. Both subs picked up yellow cards as the Reds defended stolidly and Steve Williams once again proved worth his weight in gold, when he pulled off another spectacular save - this time from Dave Hill - minutes from the final whistle.

Team : Williams ; Heary, McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan ; R Baker, Doolin (van der Velden 78 mins) , Fenlon , Keddy ( Campbell 69 mins); S Geoghegan, D Baker .

Comment : Johnny Powel is gone on loan to Drogheda, Geogho is suspended for the Sligo & Drogheda games. That leaves Dessie & the Stocking (historically) as the only recognised first-team forwards. Given the ongoing paucity of goals, Red Bull wouldn't mind seeing young Ben Kelly & the other lad from the U/19's, Philpot, getting a run out in these 2 supposedly (on paper, anyway) handy games.

Red Bull '99