45 Tonali at risk of a new ban
Shels’ Kearns on their ascent to the summit
KEEP IT COOL: Shels’ keeper Conor Kearns is taking it all in as his club’s brilliant start to the season has seen them storm into top spot
REJECTED, overlooked, let go or left on the scrapheap. There is a similar backstory to almost every one of the Shelbourne players currently sitting top of the League.
It is the first time the club has been in that position since 2006, yet if you were to draw a comparison between that era and this, the team today’s Shelbourne outfit resembles most is not the ‘06 title winning side run by Pat Fenlon. Instead it is the Derry side of 2005/06 led by Stephen Kenny or even the Drogheda team who Paul Doolin guided to the 2007 league. Both teams came from nowhere to achieve something special — that’s the Shelbourne class of 2024 summed up in a nutshell. Conor Kearns is a big part of that side, returning to Dublin from Galway just over a year ago, having previously played for UCD and St Pat’s.
Now, when we say ‘played’ for St Pat’s — that’s a bit of a sore point.
Prove
He barely did. That omission from their team is the thing that drives him and he is out to prove a point, not to anyone else, just himself.
“I don’t want to go over the top with what I am saying here,” says the Shels keeper, “but when you have suffered disappointments in the past, to then become part of something big, where you aim to achieve things, that makes you proud.”
Here’s a recap of everything Shels have achieved so far.
In 2021, they won promotion under Ian Morris.
A year later they got to the FAI Cup final, this time under Damien Duff.
Then last season they qualified for Europe.
Now they top the table by five points and while so much of the focus has gone towards Duff, other contributory factors have played a part, namely the players on the park.
In pre-season, Duff gave every one of them a chance to speak in front of the group, effectively making them leave their comfort zone to give a team talk.
Essential
The precise details of what each player said remains confidential. “That was essential. What was said had to stay within the dressing-room.”
Yet one snippet can be revealed, namely when captain Mark Coyle said it was time he shared the load carried by Duff and his backroom team.
“It can’t all be on the manager,” said Coyle.
Every player nodded in agreement. “When you are part of something, where everyone is digging in for one another, you feel you can go from strength to strength,” says Kearns.
“We are reaping rewards for the buyin. It is hard work but we want that.
The Tuesday training sessions that we do are gaining a bit of a reputation.
“That is where you earn your stripes. You grow in confidence once you come through those.
“We have similar values, all us players. Respect is there. Trust is there. Honesty is there.
Honesty
“Our manager emphasises that in the way he speaks to the media. What honesty gives you is a comfort in one another and who we are.
“The manager is relentless. He will always drive standards. So far nothing that has been laid out has ever been beyond our reach.
“The biggest reward you can get in this game is achieving the target you set for yourself.
“For us, last season, that was qualifying for Europe. Had we not got there, had we lost that final game of the campaign at Drogheda, it would have been a kick in the teeth.
“You can’t simplify our growth as a team into one moment or one game because things happen organically in football. But that night, to come from 2-0 and win, to make it to Europe, that was special.”
This season promises to be even better. With all the focus on Shamrock Rovers, Derry and St Pat’s in pre-season, Shels slipped in under the radar.
And after a draw on the opening night, they are on a winning streak.
There is more to them than defensive grit and a strong spirit, though.
Offensively they are a lot more accomplished now than they were a year ago.
But Kearns warns: “For the last four years one team or another have been crowned champions in March and then at the end of the year, Rovers have taken home the trophy.
“So we aren’t going to say anything foolish. Last year we were open and talked publicly about getting to Europe.
“This year we are more shortterm focussed. We aren’t looking beyond blocks of three games. So far that has worked.
“And it can’t be any other way. Not in this league. You can talk about where you might finish after 25 games, not after six.”
This Shelbourne story has a chapter or two still to be written.
SANDRO Tonali could face another ban for allegedly placing 50 bets on football matches after joining Newcastle last summer.
But Newcastle are clinging to the hope that any potential sanction will not be added to the 10-month suspension he is serving for breaching betting rules in Italy, meaning he could still return to action in August.
The FA have accused Tonali of placing 50 bets between August 12 and October 12 last year, following his €63m summer move from AC Milan.
The Italy midfielder was sold before the case in his homeland was made public, but once it came to light the FA launched their own investigation.
They have now decided to charge Tonali with misconduct and his fate lies in the hands of an independent commission, who have a full range of sanctions available to them.
Guilty
But Newcastle believe that should the player be found guilty, any further punishment should run concurrently with the Italian ban imposed on October 26 last year, which runs until August 27.
Whatever the outcome, his FA misconduct charge is the latest crisis to hit boss Eddie Howe, who has also seen his squad decimated by injuries this season and slip from fourth last term to midtable so far.
An FA statement read: “Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of the FA’s Betting Rules.
“It’s alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023. Sandro Tonali has until 5 April 2024 to respond.”
A club statement read: “Newcastle United acknowledges a misconduct charge received by Sandro Tonali in respect of alleged breaches of FA Betting Rules.
“Sandro continues to fully comply with relevant investigations and he retains the club’s full support.”