€4m up, but Shels end campaign as only team to blank

Though ending the campaign as the only team to fail to score, their second point, with its additional €133,000 in prize money bringing their total to over €4m, ensured Joey O’Brien’s side finished in 34th place above SK Rapid and Abdereen.

Shelbourne players, from left, John Martin, Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle and Evan Caffrey acknowledge their supporters. Pic: Luka Vovk/Sportsfile

NK Celje 0 Shelbourne 0

On a night when they once again failed to convert big chances, a league phase goal remained elusive for Shelbourne as Wessel Speel produced a string of saves to frustrate Celje at the other end in Slovenia.

Though ending the campaign as the only team to fail to score, their second point, with its additional €133,000 in prize money bringing their total to over €4m, ensured Joey O’Brien’s side finished in 34th place above SK Rapid and Aberdeen.

In a game Celje, as expected, dominated possession wise, Shelbourne defended tenaciously to then create several clearcut of their own, most notably from Kerr McInroy twice and substitute John Martin.

With Mipo Odubeko restored to the side in partnering Sean Boyd in an adventurous attacking line-up, Shelbourne started confidently, midfielder anchor McInroy shooting over the top early on.

Celje promptly responded, Shelbourne skipper Mark Coyle, playing in central defence, having to block a drive from Darko Hrka.

Their passing game in tune, Celje weren’t long in threatened again with Paddy Barrett having to deflect Russian striker Nikita Iosifov’s shot out for the game’s first corner.

Croatian striker Franko Kovacevic, whose double beat Shamrock Rovers in October, came close to adding to his tally of five goals when rounding Speel only to shoot into the side netting from a tight angle.

For all their dominance of the ball, Celje were far from sure of themselves defensively, none more so than on 27 minutes when Shelbourne carved a real chance. Kameron Ledwidge and Boyd teed up Odubeko who blasted wide when he should have hit the target.

In Shelbourne’s best spell of the half, McInroy then brought a superb save from Zan-Luk Leban with a left-foot shot after Celje failed to clear a throw in. Odubeko, released by Boyd, soon troubled Celje once more, his deflected shot bringing Shelbourne a third corner in quick succession.

In an open game, Speel had his second telling save to make when getting down to touch Sturm’s shot round a post before Kvesic curled a free kick narrowly wide.

But it was Shelbourne who had the final say of the half, Boyd, set up by McInroy, unfortunate to see his shot blocked by Iosifov.

Celje maintained their dominance of the ball into the second half and should have been ahead five minutes in but for a fine save with his feet from Speel to deny Ivica Vidovic.

Dutchman Speel was there yet again as the half wore on.

Shelbourne remained a threat on the counter, Martin, close to scoring at Shkendija and Alkmaar, was unfortunate yet again on 73 minutes when thwarted by the feet of Leban having been slipped in by Odubeko.

Nieto drilled wide to compound a frustrating night for the home side before Shelbourne almost snatched victory on 89 minutes.

Martin did well to get to the end line on the right to cross. McInroy, stretching, just failed to get enough purchase on his toepoke as he sliced wide.

NK CELJE: Leban; Nieto, Vuklisevic (Boben, 80), Hrka (Jevsenak, 52), Bejger; Kvesti (Kotnik, 72), M. Ardyli, Vidovic; Sturm, Iosifov, Kovacevic.

SHELBOURNE: Speel; Gannon, Coyle (Temple, 83), Barrett, Ledwidge; Wood (Lunney, 80), McInroy, Henry-Francis, Kelly (Caffrey, h-t); Boyd (Martin, 72), Odubeko.

Referee: Sandi Putros (Denmark).