Shels still in driving seat

Shelbourne 0 Cork City 0

Tolka Park was a potential six-point swing state last night: a victory for Shelbourne would have extended their lead to seven points; a win for Cork City would have cut the gap to just one. Instead, after as absorbing a game as a scoreless draw can be, it’s as you were for the big two at the top of the Premier Division.

Twenty minutes had elapsed before City created the first real chance of the game. Billy Woods surged through the middle before releasing O’Flynn on the right. His drilled low ball across the face of the goal saw Shelbourne frantically defending to block shots in quick succession from O’Callaghan and Woods before the danger was cleared.

Moments later, City threatened again as Bennett somehow failed to find the target with a header from O’Callaghan’s free.

While Kevin Doyle and John O’ Flynn always looked lively in the build-up for Cork, and Shels tended to rely more on deep crosses from Dave Crawley on the left, defences remained on top in the first half.

On 35 minutes, Shelbourne’s Wes Hoolahan, always looking to use the ball creatively, whizzed a shot past Devine’s left-hand post.

But the biggest roar came from the Cork supporters when, with four minutes to go to the break, Crawley and Harris combined to tackle O’Flynn in the box. The City striker went down and appealed for the penalty but referee Paul McKeon waved play on.

The heated debate continued in the tunnel at half-time where City boss Pat Dolan had words with the referee and, as others joined in, there were reports of raised voices and some pushing and shoving. Shels assistant boss Eamonn Collins was ‘sent off’ and consigned to watching the second half from behind the dug-out, where boss Pat Fenlon had only just regained his seat after a two-match ban. Later, spotted by the ref peering around the side of the dug-out, Collins was instructed to retreat further and take a seat in the front row of the stand.

Shels emerged with a renewed sense of purpose for the second half, Ollie Cahill’s downward header drifting past the far post after Owen Heary’s cross had picked him out at the far post. But there was added urgency on the part of the visitors too as City went in search of the three points that would blow the title race wide open.

On 68 minutes they came spectacularly close to breaking the deadlock, when Liam Kearney met a headed clearance from a corner sweetly on his left foot, only to see his rising 25 yard volley superbly turned over for a corner by Steve Williams.

On 73 minutes Pat Fenlon turned to Glen Fitzpatrick to replace Alan Moore upfront but most of the play was coming at the other end as City pressed for the crucial goal. Shels with Owen Heary particularly outstanding, defended with composure, however, and always looked threatening on the break.

So the ‘Bourne Supremacy continues at the top of the Eircom Premier Division. Leading by four points with just four games to go, the title is Shels’ to lose now.

SHELBOURNE: Williams, Heary, Crawley, Harris, Rogers, Hoolahan (Cawley 83), S. Byrne, Cahill, Crawford, Moore (Fitzpatrick, 73), J. Byrne.

CORK CITY: Devine, Bennett, O’ Halloran, Murray, Horgan, Woods, Kearney, Gamble, O’ Callaghan, J O’ Flynn (Behan 90) Doyle.

Referee: Paul McKeown.