Republic of Ireland round-up: Shelbourne win grudge match
Friday, January 18, 2002
Article summary
Shelbourne FC beat arch-rivals St Patrick's Athletic FC 2-1 on Friday to go top of the table.
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At loggerheads
The two sides have been at loggerheads all season, on and off the field, as the row over St Patrick's fielding of an ineligible player in Paul Marney rumbles on, with threats from Shels of legal action and appeals to UEFA to reverse an FAI decision not to dock Pats nine points. But despite the build-up as a grudge match, the game was a clean one on the field, with no bookings made and no bad tackles, while the 5,000 fans enjoyed the game without a single incident or arrest.
Geoghegan penalty
The game's opening goal came from the penalty spot, referee John McDermott awarding the kick for a push by St Patrick's left-back Willie Burke on Davy Byrne. Stephen Geoghegan stepped up to score past Shay Kelly. On 18 minutes Shels doubled their lead when former Newcastle United FC man Jim Crawford took advantage of slack marking in the box to volley home Peter Hutton's cross.
Foley heads home
Pats got a goal back on 33 minutes, when defender Colm Foley rose highest to power a header past Steve Williams, claiming his fifth goal of the season. There were chances at both ends in the second half but the score remained 2-1 as Shels withstood some severe late pressure to claim all three points.
Rovers keep in touch
Third-placed Shamrock Rovers FC kept in touch with the new league leaders with a 4-1 dismissal of relegation candidates Dundalk FC. Rovers caught Dundalk early, with two goals in the space of two minutes. Captain Pat Scully got the first with a header on 21 minutes, and Sean Francis made it 2-0 after good work by Billy Woods and Tony Grant on 23 minutes.
Flanagan sent off
Dundalk, who are third from bottom, got back to 2-1 on 65 through John Flanagan, but within five minutes Rovers had another goal through Billy Woods, and Dundalk's night got worse when scorer Flanagan was sent off. Francis rounded off the scoring for Rovers on 76 minutes.
Match postponed
The match between second-bottom Galway United FC and Bray Wanderers AFC was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
