It’s Shelbourne’s title to win or lose
Level on points with Derry City, Shels’ superior goal difference of seven means that, barring a mathematical improbability, a win in the Dublin derby tonight will be enough to land the Tolka Park side their third title in four years.
Of course, any slip-up by Pat Fenlon’s men against Bohs and Derry could capitalise against Cork City who, despite having to relinquish their league crown, have everything to play for in terms of UEFA Cup qualification.
For Fenlon, these last night dramas are nothing new.
“I’m getting well used to it by now,” he says. “Between playing and managing that’s five or six now that have gone down to the last day of the season. I’m looking forward to it, to be honest. I’m delighted it’s with Bohs as well, because there will be a good crowd and a great atmosphere. I expect a tough game. It’s a Dublin derby and Bohs won’t want us to win it against them. It will be an occasion and that’s what it should be.”
Fenlon admits he’s looking forward to the end of a season which has been marked by turbulence behind the scenes at Tolka Park. Against the backdrop of the financial difficulties which have plagued the club, the manager believes that landing the title would reflect favourably on the fortitude of his squad.
Striker Gary O’Neill is rated 50-50 for the game after picking up a hip injury in training but, as Fenlon quips, he doesn’t have a “bad replacement” in the league’s leading scorer for the past four seasons, Jason Byrne.
Against an injury-ravaged Bohemians side, Shels will also be able to call on Joseph Ndo, Alan Moore and Owen Heary.
Skipper Heary thinks there are still a couple of more twists and turns left in what has been an eventful season. “Everybody’s taking it that we have to win, but so do Derry, they have a tough game against Cork,” he points out. “We’ve also heard that Stephen Kenny was ringing a few Bohs players during the week trying to get them up for it.”
The Derry boss denied this last night, saying: “That’s completely not true.”
But Heary insists: “We’re well up for it ourselves. Hopefully, we’ll go out from word go and have a go at them. If we’re good enough, we’ll win it and, if not, we’ll hold our hands up and say we weren’t good enough. There’s no point in us relying on other results. Our last few performances haven’t been great. Down in Cork we had a chance to win the league and we didn’t put it in on the night. Against Drogheda, we were 2-1 up and we should have closed shop but we let them straight back in. We have to get it right from the word go tonight.”
Given the problems at the club this season, should Shels win tonight, would their captain rate it their most satisfying title?
“I think so, yeah. I think it would be the best title we’ve won to date. And if the team can stay together and if everything is worked out we would have a great chance of progressing in the Champions’ League — if we get there.”
Meanwhile, Cork City’s Joe Gamble is furious with himself for picking up the second yellow card for time-wasting in last week’s victory over Shels which saw him sent off and rules him out of tonight’s clash in the Brandywell.
“It’s a massive game, I’m devastated really,” says the midfielder who shone for the Irish ‘B’ team against Scotland on Tuesday night.
“We haven’t beaten Derry at the Brandywell in a long time and I’d love to be playing. I’d love to just beat them, and a win would mean we are definitely in Europe next season.”
Gamble is tipping Shels to succeed Cork as champions.
“It’s in their hands, and I think they will beat Bohs. They are at home and have all the incentive. Bohs are not doing well and have a big injury list. I can’t see them winning. Shels have the adrenalin going into it, they just have to forget about our game and if they win it, it’s a great achievement after winning it the two years before us.”
In tonight’s other Premier Division games, fourth-placed Drogheda United are at home to bottom-club Waterford United, Bray Wanderers host Sligo Rovers and Longford Town entertain St Patrick’s Athletic. All games kick off at 7.45pm.
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