Shelbourne suffer home hiccup

Dermot Keely has got just about everything he's asked of his Shelbourne side this season. But not last night. Before this game, he talked about the need to put the struggling sides away a lot more convincingly, but once again Galway United forced them into another share of the points at a blustery Tolka Park.

When Shelbourne rolled through the first 10 minutes with a succession of chances that could have put them at least a couple of goals up, it certainly appeared like a replay of the three goal dusting of Shamrock Rovers last week. By the end of a scoreless first half, however, all the thrills of that night were suddenly forgotten.

Instead, they had to wait some 70 minutes before James Keddy finished off a somewhat messy Shelbourne attack to give them the lead. Substitute Carol Van Der Velden had the initial shot, which was half blocked by teammate Tony McCarthy, but Stephen Geoghegan managed to la it off to Keddy. There wasn't a whole lot of space left, but Keddy did well to drive the ball into the net and claim his second of the season.

Galway were vulnerable throughout, shaky in almost all areas for long periods and had to rely on a Shelbourne boot for their equaliser. Fortunately for them, it came just three minutes after they had surrendered the lead. Fergal Coleman drove a long forward ball into the Shelbourne box, but in his attempt to clear, Tony McCarthy lobbed it over the advancing Steve Williams and it dropped into the net.

Shelbourne will be most unhappy with their performance. Whatever confidence they gained last week disintegrated as the game progressed and it was fortunate for them that Bohemians couldn't take the initiative in Waterford either.

The best period for Shelbourne was in fact that opening quarter hour. On six minutes, the majority of the home support thought they were cheering a goal. Mark Hutchinson scurried forward and tried his luck with a drilled shot from just outside the box. The ball deflected off the foot of Kieran Foley, dropped perilously close to Eddie Hickey's crossbar, but rolled onto the top netting.

Moments later, Pat Fenlon had his close-range shot cleared off the line after James Keddy sent in a threatening free. Stephen Geoghegan was also picking up some nice ball from the likes of Paul Doolin and Richie Baker, who was working as hard as usual on the right. United couldn't have been living any more dangerously.

Daragh Sheridan made one of the rare breaks forward for United, but that wasn't nearly enough to seriously danger goalkeeper Steve Williams. But as the first half ticked on, Shelbourne too were reducing their impact in front of goal. The United defence was a little reckless, but it was still good enough to hold out until the end of the half.

Things became that bit more desperate for Shelbourne from there on. Now attacking in greater numbers, United brought themselves back into the game and Keddy's opening goal was very much a case of something out of nothing.

What will worry Keely most about this result was another poor performance by the men up front. Dessie Baker looked a little off pace, and in truth, younger brother Richie was let down by his touch on a few occasions.

A little more than 24 hours after Don O'Riordan extended his managerial contract in Galway for another two years, this result couldn't have come at a better time or place.

SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Hutchinson, McCarthy, Campbell; Fenlon, Doolin, Keddy, R Baker, D Baker, Geoghegan. Subs: Van der Velden for Doolin (63 mins), Haylock for Geoghegan (77 mins).

GALWAY UNITED: Hickey; Neary, Morgan, Foley, Cleary; Dolan, Keane, Sheridan, Lavine; Coloeman, Ogden. Subs: Gorman for Ogden (91 mins).

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).