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Byrne header keeps Shels in the hunt

Portadown - 0 Shelbourne - 1: Shelbourne kept themselves right in the hunt for the Setanta Cup with a one-goal victory over …

Tue Apr 26 2005 - 01:00

Portadown - 0 Shelbourne - 1: Shelbourne kept themselves right in the hunt for the Setanta Cup with a one-goal victory over Irish Cup finalists Portadown. An early score by Jason Byrne separated the teams in a match that had plenty of action, but fell rather short of the thriller at Tolka Park last month.

Both sides had their chances throughout the 90 minutes, but a combination of poor finishing and the help of the woodwork led to the narrow result. Portadown - with just two points from three matches - more or less bowed out of the competition.

Shelbourne took a rather soft lead on four minutes with a header from close-in. Wesley Hoolahan crossed from the left and Jason Byrne rose to head the ball home for his second goal of the season.

Gary Hamilton thought he had equalised on 37 minutes after a super Richard Clarke-Vinny Arkins move, but his shot - which beat goalkeeper Steve Williams all ends up - was hacked clear by the Dublin defence.

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Shelbourne were dangerous on the break, and it took a super save from Paul Murphy on 40 minutes to stop a Richie Baker rocket after Hoolahan sent him on his way. Just before the break, Portadown's Wesley Boyle pounced on a Hamilton pass to bend one narrowly over the top from about 20 yards

Portadown again came within an ace of a score four minutes after the restart when Arkins got on the end of a pass from the right, but the ball just missed the far post, and then Stuart Byrne fired past for Shelbourne after good work by Baker.

Portadown were reduced to 10 men on 53 minutes when Cullen Feeney was sent off for hauling down Jason Byrne as he sped goalward. Referee David Best waved play on, but applied the red card after a linesman spotted the infringement.

Then Shelbourne had tough luck when Bobby Ryan cut in from the left and belted one against the crossbar from 20 yards. Hamilton raced clear at the other end, but his shot caused Williams no problem whatever. Murphy then saved superbly from Jason Byrne after the ball spun off Kelly's legs. Byrne and Joseph Ndo were guilty of glaring misses in the closing stages after Arkins had hit the upright.

PORTADOWN: Murphy, Feeney, O'Hara, Clarke, Convery, Kelly, Boyle, Collins, Hamilton, Arkins, M. McCann.

SHELBOURNE: Williams, Heary, Cahill, Rogers, Hawkins, Ryan, Hollahan, S. Byrne, Cawley, J. Byrne, Baker.

Referee: D Best (Carnmoney