Shelbourne 1-1 Finn Harps

Shels scrape a draw

In this 15th match of the season, Shels were caught cold by a feisty Finn Harps side which made the Reds work hard to salvage a draw and to maintain their unbeaten record. On an increasingly blustery evening, the home side had to pull out all the stops in the second half, after the Donegal men had taken advantage, of a nervous and mistake-laden first-half performance by the Redsmen.

In the now familiar pattern, Dermot Keely made his customary cautious selection and tactical start to the game. Declan Geoghegan, having shipped a groin injury in the previous game, was a doubtful starter and his fitness was called into question almost immediately as the visitors starred brightly. Harkin might have scored in the opening minutes when his long-range shot almost got the better of Steve Williams, who first fumbled the ball before making the save as Jonathon Speak hovered. After just 14 minutes, with the Reds yet to settle down, Boyle played a long looping ball out of defence on the right. Stand-in striker, Johnny Kenny, went outside the back-pedalling Geoghegan who was caught for pace. Spotting Williams advanced slightly off his line, Kenny struck a fabulous shot, which – despite getting a touch - the keeper couldn’t prevent from giving Harps a surprise lead. Stunned by the goal, Shels really struggled to made any impact and Keeley must have been relieved to get his shell-shocked side into the dressing room at half-time, only 1 goal to the bad, after Kenny nearly added a second when latching on to a poor clearance from a clearly unhappy Williams.

The Shels manager rang the changes at the break, as well as some serious arse-kicking to his befuddled players. Williams, who had back problems was replaced between the sticks by Danny O’Leary, while van der Velden took over from Doolin in midfield. The 1200 attendance, then saw a much improved Shels side, but Harps were never going to lie down or surrender their lead – that easily. O’Leary certainly earned his keep when he came out and made a fine save after Speak had burst through and seemed certain to score. At the other end, Geogho put the heart across the Reds faithful, when his header from Keddy’s cross, hit the bar to rebound to player-manager Gavin Dykes, who managed to put it away to the relative safety of a corner. Another corner was touched on by Scully at the near post to McCarthy on the back post, but this time McKenna was on hand, to once again ensure that the visitors goals remained intact.

Yet again, credit must go to the Real Reds, who despite been bettered for long periods, stuck well to their task. The equaliser, when it came eventually on 75 minutes, was result of some persevering passing between Geoghegan, Keddy and van der Velden, before the ball fell for Nutsy Fenlon to smash home from 12 yards.

Team : Williams (O’Leary 45 mins); Heary, McCarthy, Scully, D Geoghegan ; R Baker, Doolin (van der Velden 45 mins) , Fenlon , Keddy; S Geoghegan, D Baker (Haylock 60 mins).

Comment : 15 games unbeaten is a great achievement for any team by anyone’s standards. But, the Reds continue to under-achieve by not playing to their full potential throughout a complete match. One of these days, Keeley will start his best eleven and maybe score a couple of early goals and maybe (???) then go on to give the opposition a hiding ? Will it happen this Sunday in Cork ? – Red Bull thinks not. Will it happen in front of the cameras against the Junkies ? – Red Bull thinks not. Ah well – there’s always the next millennium – dream on !

Red Bull'99