Champion show by super Shels

Shelbourne 2 Cork City 0

Shelbourne recovered from a tentative opening to dominate and score a convincing win that yielded the points they needed to clinch the title with two series of matches still to play.

Delighted Shels fans invaded the pitch at the final whistle to salute the new champions and celebrate a win that bore the stamp of champions.

Once they settled, Shels played with the style and substance of a team confident of their standing and determined to illustrate a superiority that helped them lead the League race from the early weeks of the season.

Cork did not help their cause by wasting chances in the opening 15 minutes when Shelbourne struggled with the pace of the game. Cork, as is their wont when they are on the road, played much better football than they normally do at home in this brief period of superiority, with midfield exerting a great influence.

Cork seemed surprised at their early dominance as Colin T O’Brien lost a chance after four minutes when Stuart Byrne misplaced an attempted pass across the penalty area. Unfortunately for Cork the winger stumbled over the ball in his rush to capitalise.

Dan Murray failed to hit the target when George O’Callaghan afforded him a free header from a free-kick and Ryan Casey lost the best chance in the eighth minute when played clear by O’Brien. Casey closed unchallenged on Steve Williams’ goal and somehow struck a shot from ten yards against an upright, and wide.

Shels may have felt the pressure of the occasion and were only sparked into action when full-back Owen Heary went over the top to catch Ryan Casey on the ankle in a late tackle. Casey’s anger was understandable but his complaints lifted Shels out of their torpor.

It helped fire them to such an extent centre-back Kevin Doherty was fortunate to escape a red card for a dreadful foul on O’Callaghan after 24 minutes.

O’Callaghan had played the ball away when Doherty came in high and late to dump him painfully to ground for a foul that should have earned more than the yellow card produced.

Shels then focused their aggression in a more positive way when they took advantage of a mistake by Derek Coughlan to jump in front. Coughlan headed a cross from the right to the feet of Jason Byrne and the League’s leading goalscorer promptly volleyed a shot from 25 yards powerfully to the net for his 19th goal of the season.

Byrne was a vigorous force at centre-forward for Shels and as Cork lost their control in midfield, so he grew in influence.

Jamie Harris offered Cork’s tall centre-backs an effective challenge in the air and, with Richie Baker offering a regular supply from the right wing, there was a pattern and a tempo to Shels’ football that Cork could not match.

Shels were almost in again when Jason Byrne turned a header from Baker’s cross into the side netting two minutes before the break and the shape of the contest was abundantly clear within five minutes of the re-start.

Shels’ growing confidence became ever more apparent and their build-up was patient and measured as they worked the ball through midfield to Ollie Cahill wide on the left wing. He turned the ball back for full-back Dave Rogers to angle a cross to the head of Jamie Harris for a subtle deflection that beat Devine’s dive.

It was slick, it was accurate, it was calculated work by Shelbourne that reflected their more balanced and more constructive team-work. Cork failed to get to grips with Shels’ midfield for O’Brien alone played consistently for Cork in this area and Shels’ athletic strikers thrived on a good supply.

Shels left their early indecision far behind them as they played with authority throughout the second-half. Cool and resourceful in possession, their football was of a high quality and a high tempo as they showed the style of worthy champions. Cork fought to the whistle but they were always second best.

So the final whistle brought the celebrating fans on to the pitch to salute a performance worthy of the occasion. The final definitive news from Drogheda to confirm Shels’ triumph was greeted with acclaim as Shels won the championship decisively for the first time since their disputed success over St Pats two years ago.

SHELBOURNE (4-4-2): Williams; Heary, Doherty, McCarthy, Rogers; Baker, S. Byrne, Crawford, Cahill (Hoolahan 70); Harris (Geoghegan 90), J. Byrne (McCarthy 84).

CORK CITY (4-4-2): Devine; Horgan, Coughlan, D. Murray, Woods; C. T. O’Brien, O’Grady (K. Murray 69), Nwankwo, Casey (Fraher 82); O’Callaghan, Nolan (Behan 69).

Referee: Mr J. McDermott (Dublin).