“Bad day at the office”
Unfortunately, Shelbourne’s 19s, managed byMartin Murray, suffered a badknock-back against Letterkenny Rovers yesterday at Stella Maris, once againsuffering a home loss,theie home recordkilling the title aspirations, with this been their third defeat.
It could have been so much different, with the young Shels dominating the game but not taking their chances. On 24 minutes,poorpassing from Kearney and Robinson let Letterkenny in tobeat Donnelly to take the lead.Two minutes later Luke Doyle got himself a yellow card which was to come back to haunthim. Shels carried on dominating but couldn’t break down a resilient defence and on 55 minutes reacting to bad tackle on him, Doyle got a 2nd yellow which equalled to a Red.
As bleak as things looked, Murray stuck to the game plan and kept attacking Letterkenny with Mukete, Robinson and Kearney unlucky not to get an equaliser, but in going for it leftthemselves open at the back, with Letterkenny getting the second in the 75th minute. As hard as they tried Shelbourne just couldn’t break Letterkenny down and suffered a disappointing defeat which probably finishes there chances of winning the Northern title – now four points behind leaders Derry and having played a game more. They have to now concentrate and get into the top four Champions play-off.
Shelbourne Team: Donnelly, Gorman ( Ward 62min ), Kearney, Doyle, Kennedy ( Keeley 75min ), Bekombo, Robinson ( Captain ), Grimes, Pakenham, Obhakhan ( O’Flynn 70min ), Mukete. Subs; Brady, Ralph and Carragher.
Management: Martin Murray, Ger Ralph, Anto Kennedy, Ciaran Bizzell, Mark Frazer and Gary-Matthew O’Toole.
After the game Murray was delighted to announce the signing of Sean Doyle and Ross O’Brien – Sean coming from St Kevin’s U18’s and Ross coming from St Kevin’s AUL Premier side – both have ten days to settle in before Shelbourne playagain, away to Drogheda (the date to be confirmed but possibly Thurs 12th.)
