St. Patrick's Athletic 1-1 Shelbourne

Shels Share points in Stade de Shite.

Last year Shels and their supporters would have travelled to the Stadium of Shite, in some state of trepidation. Last year we would have been well pleased to come away with 1 point. Given the Reds unbeaten start to the season, against Pat’s humiliation in Europe, their faltering start to the league campaign and much talk of internal unrest - Red Bull wishes to add his name to the long list denying fatherhood of Trevor Molloy’s mot’s baby – expectations were somewhat higher this time around. However, the Inchicore side were so poor and disjointed last Friday night, that many Shels fans will feel that the (ex-)champions were there for the taking and that all 3 points should have been garnered by the Real Reds.

It ain’t pretty, but it’s worked so far – Dermot Keely again opted for a defensively weighted midfield, this time adding a fifth man and leaving just Stephen Geoghegan as the lone frontrunner. With Pats also putting out a 5 man midfield, it was never going to be a free flowing classic. However in the opening 10 minutes, both of Shel’s wide-men found gaps in the home defence. Ritchie Baker raced down the right on to a Paul Doolin pass, to whip in a cross that Pat Fenlon nodded on to Neil Ogden coming in on the far post, but the former Sligo man couldn’t quite connect and Woods saved. A few minutes later, Fenlon was the provider to Ritchie just outside the penalty area and a cracking shot from the teenager was unlucky to skid over the bar.

When the in-form Stephen Geoghegan limped off with an apparent groin injury after just a quarter of an hour, Shel’s attacking options were severely dented and Red Bull for one, foresaw a grim dour and scoreless, remaining 75 minutes. Shels continued to have the better of the first half, but substitute Johnny Powell, while showing willing and quick on the turn – he almost scored with his first touch - looked weak in the air and may need more time to settle in to NL football. He showed 1 flash of potential early in the second half when he glanced the ball, just inches wide, across the Pats goal.

Last week at home to Cork, the arrival of van der Velden on the field of play helped turn the game in the Red’s favour. This time the Dutch super-sub was on for less than a minute when the visitors were awarded a free kick 35 yards out to the left by the whistle-happy John Stacey after 67 minutes. Van der Velden stepped up and struck the ball straight for goal, with a single bounce deceiving the ‘keeper, to put the Real reds in front. Up to now, the home side’s only real chances had come from a couple of weak headers by centre-half McGuinness at the back post from corners. Woken from their lethargy by the Shels goal, they pressed forward and were awarded anther dubious corner. Swung in from their right, Deco Geoghegan got a touch with his head, but ‘keeper Steve Williams could only flap at the ball and he knocked it against the back of Tony McCarthy’s thigh to rebound into his net. Macker could do nothing about it and again, Red Bull faults captain Pat Scully & Williams for dis-organising the Reds’ defence.

At this stage neither side was willing to throw away the singe point and another disappointing derby encounter fizzled out to an insipid end.

Team : Williams; Heary, Scully, McCarthy, D Geoghegan; R Baker, Doolin ( van der Velden 67 mins), Fenlon, Campbell, Ogden; S Geoghegan ( Powell 15 mins).

Comment : Six games unbeaten can’t be all bad, but manager Keely won’t be impressing the Shelbourne traditionalists and stylists. The Stocking Haylock’s suspension might have been an opportunity to dabble with an experimental pairing of Geoghegan alongside either Powell or Dessie Baker. But somehow, the bould Dermo is unlikely be accused of inventiveness, adventure or innovation .

Red Bull '99

Fintino's Comment: Although Shels are not playing with the style we did under Damo, recent comparisons with the way Dundalk played under Keely are a bit harsh. It seems that when Dave Campbell is on the field this opinion is strenghtened, but then Van Der Velden is on, we score goals. Just a thought....