League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 3 Cabinteely

Andrew Dempsey reports from Tolka Park

Cabinteely stunned Dublin rivals Shelbourne by winning by three goals to two in front of a bumper Tolka Park crowd on Friday evening.

Goals from Ciaran Kilduff and Oscar Brennan were not enough as Pat Devlin’s superb young guns came through the Shels storm with three goals to their name from Conor Keeley, Rob Manley and Kieran Marty Waters. 

Fresh from their opening day turnaround win over Galway United at Éamonn Deacy Park, Shels boss Ian Morris made four changes from last week’s win in the west while Cabinteely boss Pat Devlin made just the one with Alex Aspil coming in for Luke Clucas.

Cabo’s last away win against Shels came all the way back in 2017 as the South Dubliners ran out 4-1 winners at the Drumcondra venue with goals from Joe Doyle, Christian Lotefa and Conor Keeley.

There was a strong Shelbourne crowd at Galway last week and given the optimism paced around the Richmond Road venue, there was a large crowd expected to descend on Tolka Park for the first Dublin Derby of the First Division season.

Cabinteely could not have had a worse start as their former man Oscar Brennan sent Shels into a one goal lead after the ball bounced around the penalty area.

Karl Moore sent an in-swinging ball in which found the head of Luke Byrne. Byrne’s header was saved by Stephen McGuinness before Brennan slammed home from close range.

Cabo reacted well as Rob Manley went close for the South Dubliners before Conor Keeley saw two of his headers go wide of Dean Delany’s goal in the minutes after Shels taking an early lead under the lights in Drumcondra. 

Cabinteely really should have levelled on the half hour mark one, if not two occasions. Keeley’s shot from a broken-down corner was cleared off the line by Lorcan Fitzgerald before Sean Hurley saw his effort from the edge of the box tipped away by Delany as Ian Morris’ side breathed a huge sigh of relief.

However, Cabinteely got their equaliser eventually o the break as Conor Keeley fired home from the penalty spot after Rob Manley was taken down by Luke Byrne on the edge of the area. Delany went the right way, but his effort was not enough to stop Keeley scoring against his former club.

Reeling from their lead being taken away, Shelbourne had the first opening of the second half as Karl Moore’s expert delivery found the head of Ryan Brennan who couldn’t find the back of the Cabinteely net inside five minutes.

Conan Byrne went close soon after, but he dragged his shot wide of the goal but Shels had an even better opportunity as Ryan Brennan saw his header just go wide off target after sumptuous delivery from Byrne.

After coming through the storm relatively unscathed in terms of goals Cabo stunned the 1,097 punters in attendance with two quickfire goals from Rob Manley and Kieran Mary Waters.

Manley was fed in after some good link up play from Dalton and arty Waters before stroking the past Delany in the Shels goal.

Waters then sensationally curled a twenty-five yards out to stun everyone at Tolka Park as Shels were left bereft of ideas thanks to a lightning fast Cabinteely storm.

Shelbourne then hit back through Ciaran Kilduff after Moore fed in the former Dundalk striker in the 75^th minute.

Shels pressed late on but it was wasn’t enough to secure a point as the South Dubliners secured another famous win by the banks of the Tolka river. 

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Aidan Friel, Derek Prendergast, Luke Byrne, Lorcan Fitzgerald; Oscar Brennan, Ryan Brennan (Dayle Rooney, 78), Conan Byrne, Karl Moore, Sean Quinn (Darragh Noone, 75); Ciaran Kilduff.

Subs not used: Colin McCabe (gk), John Ross Wilson, Daniel McKenna, Shane Farrell,

Booked: Ryan Brennan (38), Oscar Brennan (94).

Cabinteely: Stephen McGuinness; Jack Tuite, Conor Keeley (Jack Hudson, 65), Sean Hurley, Eoin Massey; Keith Dalton, Vilius Labutis (Jack Watson, 75), Zack O’Neill, Alex Aspil; Kieran Marty Waters, Rob Manley.   

Subs not used: Peter Quinlan, Shane Barnes, Jonny Carlin, Nika Kalandarishvili, Luke Clucas.

Booked: None.

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

Attendance: 1,097 (Official).  

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Rob Manley (Cabinteely).