Keely Positive about the Season's Outlook

Dermot Keely has been around football too long for any knee jerk reactions to below par displays.

After a less than convincing curtain raiser where Shelbourne entertained Monaghan at Tolka Park, resulting in a share of the spoils, Keely did not mince his words when asked for his opinion on the overall showing:

“We were shocking in the first half. Our full backs did not get forward as we had planned which left us very narrow. We had worked hard on it and it went well in practice. But that’s all very well in training. It didn’t happen on the night. ”

Karl Bermingham had given Mick Cooke’s Monaghan a one nil advantage at the break and in truth were untroubled in the opening period, something that Keely recognised:

“They were well organised and got set up to let us play in front of them. We didn’t open them up in the first half so I felt the need to make a few changes.”

The introduction of Philip Gorman and Marc Hughes at the interval for Dinny Corcoran and David Cassidy plus an undoubted verbal volley from the manager helped change the pattern of the game upon the resumption.

Overall Keely got the response he was looking for and on another day they may well have claimed all three points:

“In the end I felt we should have won it, we had enough chances to. We ratcheted it up a couple of notches in the second half and caused them a lot more problems.”

Eric Foleys clinically dispatched free was all their travails yielded and so an inauspicious draw was the end result for a club who came so close to promotion over the past few years.

The club from the top to the bottom crave football in the top flight. Keely feels it’s where they should be:

“We were second last year. And it should have given us promotion. We are the only country in Europe where second doesn’t get you up. But that’s the way this league is run so we have to get on with it.”

“I am fully focused on achieving promotion this time around. That’s the aim and if we fall short we’ll look at it then.”

Shelbourne have retained the services of only seven of last year’s squad. There has been a complete overhaul on the playing side and the decorated manager, who is no stranger to success, felt that it was in the interests of the team to freshen things up:

“We had the same bunch of players for two years. I felt that the whole squad needed a change. The lads who have been here the last two years gave it their best but they just fell short. So I have decided to act on it and bring in some new faces.”

The competition for a berth in the top flight looks daunting on paper with the Derry City and Cork City saga adding to the already stiff challenge Waterford are anticipated to pose to Shels' plans.

But for Keely, Pat Scully’s Limerick also come into the equation in what looks the toughest first Division for years:

“Waterford appear to have put together a strong side and will be in the reckoning. Limerick are also a side who I think have the resources to keep a sustained push this year. He has brought in a couple of good players.”

Considering the off the field drama surrounding Cork he lauded their opener against Derry:

“That was a terrific result all things considered. We all know what big clubs Derry and Cork are. But that is in the past. Its what their squads are for this season that matters and we will know a lot more in the coming weeks as to how they will shape up.”

As for the possibility of the Reds adding to their squad before the deadline – this was honestly appraised by the former Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Dublin City manager:

“I think we are done to be honest. The budget is what it is and I don’t expect to be bringing in any more.”

Next up for Shels is a trip to Wexford to take on Wexford Youths where the Dubliner expects a tough game:

“We want to go there and get the season up and running. Mick Wallace is a great bloke and has put a great amount of effort into the set up. His heart is in football and I fully respect what he has done.”

The away game gives the Tolka Park surface some time to recover as it is currently below what is needed – highlighted by the fact Shels were only able to play one pre season game on it. Something Keely alluded to:

“It simply needs more growth, there has been sand and fertiliser put on it so if we can get some good weather I’d expect it to improve in the space of a few weeks.”

Shels, much like the hallowed turf they will be playing on, for Keely, simply needs time for shoots of optimism to come to the fore. Don’t rule out a successful swansong yet.