Waterford United v Shelbourne

SSE Airtricity League – Division One

Regional Sports Centre – Friday, September 5th – KO 7.45pm

Following Shelbourne’s close run FAI Ford Cup 3^rd Round Replay, which saw them bow out at the hands of last season’s Premier League Champions, St. Patrick’s Athletic on Monday night, Shelbourne return to their main object for the season – promotion – when they visit Waterford United at the RSC on Friday night. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.

Last Friday night, Shelbourne drew 0-0 with Div. One leaders Longford Town at Tolka Park, in a game where they had enough chances to win, and to also make a dent in “deTown’s” positive ‘goal difference’. On the same night, Waterford came away from Eamonn Deacy Park on the wrong end of a 1-0 score-line, which could have been much worse, except that the Galway FC forwards, much like their Shelbourne namesakes had left their scoring boots at home.

These teams have played each other four time so far this season, three in the league and one in the FAI Ford Cup, Round Two. The first league game, played at the end of March in Tolka, ended in a 3-3 draw, the visitors getting a late, late 93^rd minute equaliser, courtesy of a Lee Murtagh own-goal. Shelbourne have won the other three – a 1-0 win at the RSC and 3-1 win at Tolka (both in the league), together with a 1-0 win at Tolka in the FAI Cup.

Speaking after Monday’s loss to Pat’s in the Cup, Johnny McDonnell explained that though he was disappointed, he was proud of his players –”I was disappointed to lose but I thought the performance was fantastic. I thought the players were great. We should have been one up definitely, possible two nil-up, as much as they had a lot of the ball in the first half. To concede a goal in the manner we did was so disappointing. We responded well in the second half and had a right go – once they were only one-nil up, we obviously had a chance. But it was more about the manner of the performance, if the performance got us through and won the game, then great, but I think if we perform like that, we’ll be fine coming through to the end of the season. I think that there’s a bit of belief with the players.”

On the Waterford game “We play Friday, we need to win Friday. We’ll see what happens in the Wexford/Longford game. We could be level on Saturday. They’re ahead on goal difference and there will be four games to play. We’ve nothing to lose, we know we can play. The group of players that we have, we can change it around, we can play different systems. Because the players we have are all about the same level, we have no fear of putting a player in and leaving a player out. We’ll go and play the way we’ve played all season, just go and play the next match and the next match is in Waterford. It’s the most important match of the season because it is the next game. I’m confident in the group that we can achieve something – and if we don’t, it’ll be our own fault. I don’t think many teams can beat us. If we perform to our high standards we’ll be OK.”

Manager, Johnny McDonnell should have a full squad to select from with the exception of Darren Tinnelly, and possible Keith Quinn, who is recovering from knock on the knee, received in training.

Shelbourne have no suspensions for this game.

Suspended: None

Injured: Darren Tinnelly

Doubtful: Keith Quinn

Goal Scorers (Competitive 2014)

Dylan Connolly – 7

Gareth Coughlan – 6

Jordan Keegan -4 (FAI 1)

Conor Murphy – 3

Darren Tinnelly – 3 (EASC 2)

Dylan Cashin – 2 (LSC 1)

Brian Gannon – 2 (1 LSC)

Willo McDonagh – 2

Alan O’Sullivan – 2 (1 FAI)

Philip Hand – 1

Adam O’Connor – 1 (LSC 1)

Stephen McDonnell -1

Keith Quinn – 1

Lee Murtagh – 1

Lee Desmond – 1

Jake Donnelly – 1

Adam McDonnell – 1

Lee Duffy – 1

Sean Russell – 1