Shels staring at the drop after Limerick defeat

Shelbourne are staring a return to the First Division in the face after a solitary goal from Rory Gaffney gave Limerick a 1-0 win at Thomond Park.

An eighth defeat from their last ten games now means that should second-bottom Bray Wanderers, who are three points ahead, get a point at Bohemians tomorrow night Shelbourne will suffer automatic relegation.

Despite being up against an under-strength Limerick side missing its first choice central defensive partnership of Stephen Folan and Sam Oji, Shels were slow to get into a must win game, though they did register the first shot on target on 16 minutes when Dylan Connolly, racing onto a ball over the top, stung the palms of Barry Ryan in the home goal.

It counted for little though as Limerick snatched the lead, for what proved the game's only goal, from a 27th minute corner.

Carel Tiofack whipped the delivery in to the near post and striker Gaffney arrived to crash the ball past Lee Murphy for his ninth goal of the season.

Shels responded and were almost level six minutes later.

Topscorer Dean Kelly got in behind the home defence, but Ryan was off his line smartly to save at the striker's feet. Kelly took a tumble as Shels' appeals for a penalty were ignored.

Shels' defender Graham Gartland shot over from a corner while Ryan made a fine stop to deprive Kelly before Stephen Sheerin then missed a terrific chance to equalise, firing wide from Derek Doyle's cross, two minutes before half-time.

Another chance was wasted by Shels eight minutes into the second half when Kelly somehow contrived to fire over the bar after great work on the left flank from Doyle.

Ryan then deprived Adam Hanlon with a fine save on 66 minutes after the winger cut in from the right to shoot before Kelly blew perhaps Shels' best chance of the game when blasting over the bar two minutes from time.