Mathews: we were just Shel-shocked

SHELBOURNE manager Alan Mathews has explained why he declined to talk to the media immediately after his side lost the First Division title to a late Cork City goal at Tolka Park on Saturday night.

He wasn’t being a sore loser, he insists, he was simply in shock at the way the title had gone south in the 94th minute of the game when Graham Cummins headed the winner to give City the crown.

“The feeling was horrible in the dressing room afterwards, horrible,” he said.

“To concede with 10 seconds to go, then tip-off, then game over — you’ve no chance of getting back into it and it’s the worst feeling ever, certainly the worst feeling I’ve ever had in football.

“I was in shock after it. It was gut-wrenching. There was a hollowness because it was a final match with no way back. And that killed everyone. There were players crying, some of the staff were crying. I couldn’t bring myself to get up off the chair never mind go and talk.

“Someone said I fell to the ground when the goal went in. I can’t remember, I probably did. Because I could see the ball coming across and I knew he was going to score. And then bang. It was car-crash stuff. But that’s football, that’s sport, it’s the narrowest of margins.”

However, after extending his congratulations to Cork City, the manager went on to say that Shels are over the disappointment now and fully focused on next Sunday’s FAI Cup final against Sligo Rovers, an occasion set to crown an already memorable season for the Dublin club which, despite the last-minute pain of Saturday night, has also seen them promoted back up to the Premier Division.

The question of who will join Cork and Shels in the top-flight next season will be decided this week, beginning tonight when Monaghan United host Galway United at Gortakeegan in the first leg of their play-off (kick off 7.45pm). The second leg will be at Terryland Park on Friday.