Super sub Caffrey strikes late as Shels edge Pat’s

As two of the biggest names in Irish football – Stephen Kenny and Damien Duff – shared the sideline in the end it was the latter who left Inchicore with all three points after an incredible Dublin derby.

Shelbourne’s Seán Boyd opened the scoring with his fourth goal in four games before Jake Mulraney’s stunning free-kick on 72 minutes levelled the derby.

And it was heading for a draw until the 97th minute, as sub Evan Caffrey stepped up to net a winner to send the away support into dreamland.

It was the 21-year-old’s first goal of the season and what a time to get it, as Duff’s side extended their lead at the summit to four points ahead of Friday’s date with the champions.

The Reds’ stunning victory, their fourth in a row over the Saints, saw their unbeaten run extend to seven games. Kenny looked crestfallen at the final whistle as his wait for a first victory in the St Pat’s hot seat goes on. His side remaining in seventh, 15 points off the top and now winless in four.

The first chance of the night fell the way of the visitors as some excellent pressing from Shels skipper Mark Coyle allowed Boyd in on goal, but the striker’s tame effort was no trouble for Danny Rogers, as a crowd of 4,811 packed into Richmond Park.

Saints stalwart Chris Forrester had his side’s first opportunity of the derby but blazed high over the visiting fans who packed into the away end behind Conor Kearns’ goal. Mulraney attempted to find the bottom corner moments later but was denied by a strong Kearns save.

In Kenny’s first game in charge last Fri

day, St Pat’s kept Derry scoreless until 14 minutes from time, but here, it took the Reds just 14 minutes to open the scoring as Boyd bagged his sixth goal of the season.

A strong run by Kameron Ledwidge towards the left flank allowed the defender to find Will Jarvis. Hitting the ball firsttime, the Hull City loanee’s cross was perfect as Boyd easily out jumped Anto Breslin at the back post to head the visitors in front. Advantage Shels.

White and red flares ignited from the away section and smoke filled the sky, as Duff celebrated with his bench. It was advantage Shels in the derby.

It was up to Kenny’s men to respond after the early setback as his side worked the ball into two good positions on both flanks, but crosses from full-backs Anto Breslin and Ryan McLaughlin were well overhit. As things didn’t seem to be clicking for the hosts, Shels suffered a blow just before the half hour mark, as Jarvis, creator of the opener, was forced to leave the field after suffering a nasty cut underneath his eye.

The win ger jumped to challenge Jamie Lennon for a header and came off the worse, he was replaced by JJ Lunney.

Shels were forced to play with 10 men momentarily as Gavin Mo lloyd id superb ly to deny Le av ya sight of goal with a fine challenge just inside the six-yard box.

After a slow start, the hosts did finish the half the stronger, as a series of crosses were well defended by Shels before Brandon Kavanagh tried his luck from outside the box.

But Shels could have found themselves a man down going into the break, as midfielder John O’Sullivan breathed a huge sigh of relief when his crunching tackle on Leavy was deemed to be a yellow card, amid roars from the home support calling for the 30-year-old to be sent off.

Shels created a fine chance on the break with 25 minutes left on the clock as substitute Caffrey raced forward on the counter. He crossed to Liam Burt but the Scot was just a fraction of a second too late to convert at the back post.

With Shels holding the second-best defensive record in the league, it was going to take something special for St Pat’s to get back into the derby. Up stepped Mulraney.

Having also scored his only goal of the campaign to date against Shels in March, the winger’s fabulous free-kick sailed into the top corner on 72 minutes.

Kenny’s men had found their goal and the Saints faithful found their voice again. The goal did spark new life into the hosts afterwards but, on 97 minutes, all hell broke loose as Evan Caffrey picked up the ball, jinked by Forrester and stuck the ball past Rogers.

A stunning winner which saw all three substitutes involved in the build-up.

For Kenny, the wait for his first victory as St Pat’s boss goes on.

But for the leaders, this is a night that will live long in the memory. Chapter two awaits. Expect fireworks.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Rogers; McLaughlin (Freeman 88), Redmond, Turner, Breslin (Keeley 46); Lennon, Forrester, Leavy (Nolan 62); B Kavanagh (Melia 62), Keating (C Kavanagh 88), Mulraney.

SHELBOURNE: Kearns; Gannon, Molloy, Barrett, Ledwidge; O’Sullivan (Caffrey 60), Coyle; Jarvis (Lunney 31), Smith (Williams 75), Burt; Boyd.

REF: R Hennessy.