Shelbourne hold their nerve

In football, certain principles tend to apply, and one is that the best team tends to sit on top of the league table come the end of the season.

Even without winning, Shelbourne did enough against St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park last night to persuade all but the most hardened sceptics that they were again just a cut above their nearest rivals.

The evidence of Pat Dolan's time at Richmond Park diminishes with each passing season, but the Cork City boss could hardly have complained about the passion his old team displayed in their attempt to prevent Shelbourne from lifting the title in Inchicore.

For 90 minutes a young and relatively inexperienced home side had sought to take this game to the champions-elect in the hope of making their mark on the last night of a title race which only came to life in these last few, frantic weeks.

Shelbourne, like Cork, were distracted along the way by a brief but memorable European adventure, and like the southerners they had the odd slip up over the course of the campaign.

When push came to shove, though, the players justified the faith of Pat Fenlon in their resilience and last night their supporters swept onto to the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate the first successful title defence since St Patrick's managed the feat in 1999.

"To retain this league was the hardest thing I've ever done," said the jubilant Shelbourne manager. It was physically and mentally sapping.

"It's a fantastic achievement, though. To do what we did in Europe and still stay top of the league was terrific. I'm so proud of the players, they've been fantastic since the start of the season."

Around him Shelbourne fans swamped the players as they battled their way to a podium the sponsors had struggled to erect due to the swiftness of the pitch invasion. Within a matter of moments after the final whistle, it seemed, the stand and terraces of what had been a packed Richmond Park were empty, with the local support slipping away rather than watch their old rivals being crowned champions, and the visitors commencing what promised to be a night-long party in front of the dressing-rooms.

Like their players, they'd waited a little longer for the prize to be secure. In the end, it just made the overdue joy that little bit sweeter.

Gavin Cummiskey adds:So it was a bridge too far for Cork City, but, as manager Pat Dolan pointed out, this was their first real attempt at winning the title. They failed by three points, which was something in which he took solace last night.

"I'm proud of my players," he said. "It's self evident what's now needed. I am very happy with the players that I have. With the present lads that we have we are good enough to learn to go to the next level. If we can keep all of them we can achieve the highest goal. Remember, this is their first time really challenging for the championship.

"Where we go from here is a decision for the club to make. The good conditions need to continue, and improve, if we are to be the top team. And we can be the best team in Ireland.

"What happened here tonight, when they settled and gave a battling second-half performance, showed that."

If events had of gone differently in Richmond Park, the decision by referee Ian Stokes to award Bohemians an eighth-minute penalty for what appeared to be a fair challenge by City goalkeeper Michael Devine on Tony Grant could have cost them the title.

Nevertheless, the early goal by James Keddy, who fired home the rebound after Kevin Hunt's spotkick was stopped by Devine, surely helped the Shelbourne players to settle at half-time in Dublin.

Stokes's night was capped by an Garda escort out of the ground.

"You can make your own mind up on that, but I've been told that television replays show it was not a penalty. I'll have a look at it, but the referee was Ian Stokes and he will make all the headlines," Dolan said.

"But in fairness, this is Shelbourne's day. They are the first team to win back-to-back titles since St Pat's in '98 and '99. I would like to congratulate them."