Shelbourne 1-0 St. Pats

Sore losers Pats get physical but Shels rule the roost

Shels remain the only team in the Premier Division with their unbeaten record intact and the confidence in the camp is sky high following their clinical demolition of Cork City in last Sunday’s clash at Turner’s Cross. Shelbourne may have only won the game 2 1 but the scoreline hardly reflected the manner with which they carved City apart.

Even buckley couldnt begrudge:
“Shels have certainly improved greatly from last season,” admitted St Pat’s manager Liam Buckley. “They have come on tremendously well and showed last Sunday they are certainly be in the title chase for the long haul. “They have a very strong strike force with Stephen Geoghegan in the side, their midfield is very strong with ‘Nutsy’ Fenlon and Paul Doolin and Richie Baker on the wing is one of the very best in the league and is perhaps good enough to be playing in Britain. Dermot Keely also has them well motivated and that is a big plus in this league.” He added: “You have to want it and Shels have shown this season that they certainly do.”

For an moany bastard to lavish praise on the team his side are about to face may not be the usual pre match preparation to expect but St Pat’s and Buckley have always set themselves up as the exception to the rule.

They stubbornly saw off the challenge of Cork City last season and while much of the credit for their successful defence of the title is down to the three wins they enjoyed over City they also took eight points off Shels in the last campaign. Last season may be bygones at this stage but the psychological advantage St Pat’s hold over their two main title rivals is almost certain to have some impact over the course of the present campaign.

Also on the plus side for Buckley is the fact his playing staff levels have been steadily increasing over the last number of weeks, with Paul Osam and Paul Donnelly the only players still on the injured list at this stage.

He said: “We are still only at the half way stage of the season and we are still in the top three and all this without the influence of a number of key players who have been out injured for long spells already this season."

Shels have given themselves the prefect platform to finally mount a challenge for the league title. Having finished in the top four for the past five seasons the hunger in the side and among the supporters has reached fever pitch.

A night to remember in Tolka. Pats are scum.