Clinical Shels put Galway to the sword to stay top

Shelbourne stayed top, Derry City now looking the only real danger in the title race, even if they rode their luck a shade against ten-man Galway United.

John Martin’s goal after careless Galway passing on 11 minutes put the visitors on the back foot and Martin again was key as Evan Caffrey doubled Damien Duff’s side’s advantage on 36 minutes – but the visitors missed a penalty that would have made the last 20 minutes or so really compelling.

That Francely Lomboto effort, saved by Conor Kearns, followed a controversial decision at the expense of the latter; truthfully, United were inferior from start to finish and would have been lucky to get anything out of the game.

It would have been revealing had Lomboto scored: how are Shels’ nerves in the title race? Whatever, they looked like champions here – but Derry are closing in.

Mark Coyle (suspended) was a notable absentee in the engine room for Shels, who began life without Gavin Molloy, who left before the mid-season break for Aberdeen. Rob Slevin came in for Maurice Nugent for the visitors.

Shels won their first clash with United 1-0 here earlier this season – on a heavy surface, much different to the watered one here – but they were poor subsequently in Galway, suffering one of only three defeats in the league this term.

Liam Burt and Karl O’Sullivan both hooked efforts over early on in a lively first half. United came into this game with the league’s best defensive record but they will be gutted with the nature of the opener.

Jeannot Esua played a sloppy pass back under some duress to Rob Slevin; three Shels players were ready to pounce like concealed crocodiles sensing prey at the edge of the water – and John Martin had a clear run at goal, Esua chasing vainly.

Martin scored the decisive goal when this pair clashed in March and his left-footed finish from a similar area was assured.

Martin was the outstanding player in the first half but Galway should have equalised on 31 minutes.

Conor McCormack drove a speculative shot that was deflected to Hurley via Kameron Ledwidge. Key here was Sean Gannon deciding to tackle pretty meekly rather than risk giving away a penalty but Hurley, for all that the angle demanded precision, will feel he ought to have scored.

United would have been content that, after coughing up such a bad goal, they’d gotten themselves into a reasonable mental place against a Shels side that was very much on it in pursuit of an unlikely league title.

But the game looked practically over as a contest when Caffrey made it 2-0.

Martin again toyed with Galway as if he had a vendetta. He nutmegged Al-Amin Kazeem in the build-up to a corner, at which Ed McCarthy was one against the two Shels players over the ball.

Clearly, Shels had worked on this pre-game and, with United’s defence at the back stick befitting lads struggling to get room at the bar for last orders, Martin hooked the ball to Caffrey, who finished neatly at close range.

Another mistake from Esua gifted Smith a good early chance early in the second half but Garry Buckley, now centre-back after John Caulfield made three changes at the break, did really well to limit his options and United got away with it.

Caulfield’s substitutions were instrumental, to varying degrees of joy, in the penalty they were awarded with 15 minutes left.

Walsh headed on a lovely ball for sub Mo Nugent, who clashed with Kearns, who clearly felt he got the ball. Regardless, Lomboto’s staggered run preceded an effort that gave Kearns every chance if he guessed right.

That he did and so did Damien Duff in believing that JJ Lunney could thrive without Coyle: he was neck and neck with Martin for MVP. Two quick yellow cards for substitute Aodh Dervin near the death embellished Galway’s misery.

He can have no complaints. Shels will wonder what is to come. One step at a time, with Europe and the FAI Cup distractions of the best sort.

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Matty Smith (John O’Sullivan 73), JJ Lunney; Evan Caffrey (Jad Hakiki 90), Liam Burt (Dean Williams 22), Will Jarvis (Shane Griffin 81); John Martin (Sean Boyd 72).

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua, Robert Slevin (Aodh Dervin 46), Killian Brouder, Al Amin Kazeem (Francely Lomboto 64); Ed McCarthy (Patrick Hickey 46), David Hurley (Maurice Nugent 46), Conor McCormack (Conor O’Keeffe 64), Garry Buckley, Karl O’Sullivan; Stephen Walsh.

Referee: Rob Hennessy.