TWO sublime first half goals from their striking partnership of Stephen Geoghegan and Pat Morley, was sufficient to give Shelbourne one of their more comfortable wins of the season, when beating Home Farm/Everton at Tolka Park on Saturday night. The victory moved them into second place in the table and to within four points of leaders Derry City.

Such was their dominance from the start of that first half, the game should have been long over before Shelbourne eventually took the lead in the 25th minute.

Needless to say, Shelbourne manager, Damien Richardson, agreed both goals epitomised the football Shelbourne aspire to. And although each stemmed initially from defensive errors, both came from wonderful flowing passing movements and accurately hit crosses from the right.

A poor header from Home Farm's experienced central defender, Peter Eccles, brought the first. Stephen Geoghegan and Morley combined for the latter to find Pascal Vaudequin, who chested down to cross low into a crowded box where Geoghegan's striking instinct prevailed. Geoghegan tapped in the rebound after his initial snap shot had come back off a post.

The second goal, 10 minutes later, was even better. Morley, Vaudequin and Tony Sheridan's approach play fed the over lapping Greg Costello, whose first time cross was headed home by Morley at the back post.

Home Farm's futile cause wasn't helped when their frustration boiled over a minute before halftime in the guise of left back Thomas Lawless who, having been booked after six minutes for a foul on Sheridan, was sent off for twice felling Vaudequin within a minute.

The less said about a hugely disappointing second half the better.