THE MART OF POISE
Shels ace keeps cool to land three points
JOHN MARTIN’S swift and decisive action left Shelbourne sitting pretty as league leaders at this early juncture.
The game itself wasn’t a thing of beauty – far from it in fact. More so an arm wrestle, with neither side giving an inch.
The highlights reel will be brief as a result, not that Reds fans will care a jot as their side maintained their impressive early form to go two points clear at the summit.
Are they viable title contenders? Well, why not? Damien Duff will feel they can only improve in possession, after eking out back-to-back 1-0 wins here and in Sligo on Friday.
But while Galway will rue their wayward finishing, Shels had no such complaints as Martin weighed in with the early and vital contribution.
Hull City loan star Will Jarvis caused Galway all sorts of bother on the left and reminded the Shels faithful packed into the Riverside why he was such a hit last year.
Galway full-back Colm Horgan was too eager stepping up to try and cut out Evan Caffrey’s ball up the line, and his misreading of the situation opened the door for Jarvis.
With a good turn of foot, he raced into the box and unleashed a low drive that crashed off Brendan Clarke’s post, only to cannon into Martin’s path.
The striker slotted home from a tight angle to give Shels a lead which they just about deserved on the balance of a scrappy first-half.
Conor Kearns didn’t have a save to make leading up to the break, with Rob Slevin, Aodh Dervin and Conor Mccormack’s either too wild or lacking punch.
And Martin nearly made them pay with a second goal but, having latched onto Jarvis’ clipped cross, his tight near post effort was turned away for a corner.
Galway upped the ante after the break. Their intensity unsettled Shels who replaced Kameron Ledwidge with Tyreke Wilson shortly after Vincent Borden’s drilled free-kick.
Liam Burt was a useful outlet for the hosts and the Shamrock Rovers loanee went on a series of dangerous runs in the final third that ultimately came up short.
His decision making could have been better but still, Shels didn’t get him involved enough to offer any additional comfort on the scoreboard late on.
But ultimately Shels didn’t need it as they battened down the hatches to secure the win and move top.