From Ricardo to Rodrigo - Joey O'Brien's contact cures Shels' striker search

How Shels found the piece to the puzzle they hope revives them into title contenders.

Shelbourne head coach Joey O'Brien during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division and SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Launch 2026 at Whelan's in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Renowned data specialists Jamestown Analytics were retained by Shelbourne to mirror Brighton and Hove Albion’s recruitment model but manager Joey O’Brien used traditional methods to source their Portuguese striker Rodrigo Freitas.

It was through his former teammate at Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United, Ricardo Vaz Tê, that Shels found the piece to the puzzle they hope revives them into title contenders.