Shelbourne bow out as Brann hold their ground

THE last rites were duly observed on Shelbourne's participation in the European Cup Winners' Cup on a balmy evening in Bergen last night, but the scoreline really doesn't tell the true story. As the saying goes, Shelbourne deserved something out of the game.

They scored early, unfortunately undoing that good work soon after but from there on, they theoretically kept the tie alive until the 71st minute. In the process they did themselves justice far more than was the case in the first leg at Tolka Park. Utilising a vast pitch with some bright football, they matched Brann chance for chance in a predictably open game and for spells looked technically the superior side.

They also worked their socks off when they hadn't got the ball and in fairness to a well-drilled Brann they had to. Still Shelbourne maintained a steady enough flow of chances to keep an unlikely dream alive for much of the night. Here again, we're talking about full-timers against part-timers, and though that was disguised manfully for much of the night, it began to take a toll in the latter stages.

Essentially it was a praiseworthy team performance. Mark Rutherford ran at the Norwegians fearlessly and effectively for much of the night, and Brann looked just as vulnerable whenever Tony Sheridan (some of his passing was again outstanding) and Dave Tilson were involved. Stephen Geoghegan was forever alert in timing his runs, and on another night would have reaped more reward.

An early goal had become a Shelbourne mantra in the build-up to the game as their only hope of causing a turn-up and come it did after just four minutes.

Stephen Geoghegan, as he was to do repeatedly, got in behind Brann's flat back four when released by Brian Flood's clever ball through the inside right channel. John O'Rourke seemed to be bundled to the ground as he attempted to convert the ensuing pull-back, but Mark Rutherford came in at the far post to score off the cross bar.

However, the Norwegians equalised out of the blue just five minutes later. Right-sided mid-fielder Jan-Ove Pedersen crossed at pace, the ball taking a slight but crucial deflection for Mons lvar Mjelde to convert a far post header.

Brann upped a gear and began turning the Shelbourne back four with early, balls over the top, either looking to get through on goal or into the corners and whip in crosses to the far post.

But the huge Tore Andre Flo, reputed to be one of the parties which explained the presence of Southampton manager Graeme Souness at the game, screwed his shot wide when through on Alan Gough and Agust Gylfason shot over from a Flo cross.

Shelbourne regrouped, and Rutherford beat three men in a weaving 17th minute run before Stephen Geoghegan laid the ball off to Tony Sheridan. A little shimmy and deftly weighted through pass put the Shelbourne striker through but his shot came back off Kristinsson's right boot

The second-half maintained the encouraging momentum, albeit without another early breakthrough. Discontent within a paltry attendance of 2,118, an increasing edginess crept into the home side as Shelbourne retained possession well and kept exploring openings.

All the while they were one goal away from creating the kind of scenario in which Brann might have cracked and it might well have come from either of two crosses before the hour mark. Tilson's acutely angled drive was parried by Kristinsson, before Stephen Geoghegan slightly miscued an inviting shooting chance.

With Brann reprieved, Gough then saved from the lively Mjelde twice in quick succession, the second a sharp reaction save with his feet from a downward far post header. Sheridan's threat when running at a back-pedalling Brann defence was constant and on 69 minutes he was clearly held back inside the area when breaking clear before his cross was almost met by the incoming O'Rourke.

Alas, two minutes later, the tie was put beyond them, and a supremely well taken goal it was too. Geirmund Brendesaether's long ball through the inside right channel saw Jan Ove Pedersen briefly unmarked behind the Shelbourne defence. He still had plenty to do but with two touches he chested the ball down, turned and dipped his acrobatic volley above Gough and inside the far post.

That was effectively that.