Shels end Dundalk's unbeaten home run

Shelbourne manager Joey O’Brien came into the game a manager under pressure following four successive defeats

Daniel Kelly opened the scoring for Shelbourne against Dundalk. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Dundalk 1 (Horgan pen 89) Shelbourne 2 (Kelly 11, McInroy 52) 

Shelbourne put their awful April behind them with a magnificent start to May as goals in either half from Daniel Kelly and Kerr McInroy saw them become the first side to beat Dundalk at Oriel Park this season.

The Drumcondra outfit were made sweat when Daryl Horgan pulled a goal back from the spot a minute from time but they held out for a huge three points.

Joey O’Brien came into the game a manager under pressure following four successive defeats – a run which started with a 3-2 defeat against the Louth men on April 3rd.

However, despite their late scare when Kameron Ledwidge needlessly gave away a penalty, they have moved up to sixth in the table ahead of Monday’s Dublin Derby away to Bohemians.

The visitors took the lead on 11 minutes when Kelly flicked McInroy’s ball from a short corner routine past Enda Minogue.

Despite having coach Mauro Martins sent-off on 22 minutes, Shels comfortably doubled their lead on 52 minutes with Paddy Barrett’s free kick helped on by the head of Sean Boyd with the loose ball coming off Rob Cornwall, allowing McInroy to nip in and slot past Minogue.

Horgan’s penalty meant it was an uncomfortable ending for Shels but despite nine minutes of additional time they held out for the victory with Dundalk boss Ciarán Kilduff red carded afterwards by referee Paul Norton.

DUNDALK: Minogue; JR Wilson, Warren (Cornwall HT), Animasahun, T Wilson; Dervin, Buckley (Burns HT); Kenny (McDaid HT), Teahan (Groome 73), Horgan; Arubi.

SHELBOURNE: Speel; Gannon, Bone, Barrett, Ledwidge; Henry-Francis (Caffrey 81), McInroy, Lunney; Kelly (Chapman 95), Boyd (Freitas 81), Wood (Coote 69).

Referee: Paul Norton.