TOP TWO END LEVEL
against Curracloe to take the title.
However, Oylegate knew that a big response would put the title back in their own hands.
Not only were they able to do just that, had it not been for Matthew Murphy in the visitors’ goal they could even have taken all the points.
Slick conditions meant both sides sparred for the opening ten minutes. However, as both teams settled, the visitors looked more likely to break the deadlock.
It came as no surprise when Richard Murphy sent Harry Kehoe into the clear and the Shelburne attacker calmly poked past Paul Burns.
Midway through the period Seán Connolly found himself in space in the penalty area but Burns produced a classy save. Murphy then saw his effort from close range somehow deflected over the crossbar by Richard Fortune.
Oylegate hadn’t posed much threat in the opening 21 minutes. That changed when Fortune found Darragh Harris on the edge of the box.
He turned crisply and sent a powerful left-foot shot at goal, but Murphy was up to the challenge and made a smart save.
Just before the break, Oylegate’s Mikie Doyle raced away and was fouled just inside the penalty area. He stepped up himself to the spot-kick, looking to send his side in level, but the conditions made it difficult and he dragged his effort wide left.
Shelburne looked to be on course for victory when James Murphy and Seán Connolly combined to cross on the right. The outswinger took a wicked deflection off Conal Byrne and looped agonisingly into the Oylegate net.
The hosts were never going to give up, despite the misfortune. Five minutes later Byrne stepped up to a free-kick, 35 yards from goal, and fired in a shot too hot for Murphy to handle in the Shelbourne goal.
Now on top, Oylegate pushed forward and levelled eight minutes from time when Harris raced onto Byrne’s long ball and clinically fired high past Murphy.
The home side had several chances to win and move top of the table but the Shelburne stopper made a string of superb saves to bank the point for his side.