Dundalk pay the penalty

SHELBOURNE'S winning run continued at Oriel Park last night against a Dundalk side that is sinking deeper into relegation problems.

There was not a great deal between the two sides and indeed it is not surprising that the outcome was decided by a penalty.

Shelbourne, however, showed that bit more flair in attack with Tony Sheridan and Stephen Geoghegan always looking a very dangerous attack force while Pat Morley worked hard to give them possession.

Play opened up a bit in the second period and Dundalk forced a series of corners in the first 15 minutes or so but had nobody to put the ball in the net.

Shelbourne were lucky after 10 minutes of the period when Robbie Devereux looked clean through their defence to be taken down from behind by Declan Geoghegan on the edge of the area. Surprisingly, referee - McDermott did not show a card to the offending player and the free kick produced nothing.

Shelbourne got the only goal of the game after Tom McNulty took down Pat Morley rather unnecessarily near the penalty spot and Greg Costello stepped up to convert the spot kick in the 66th minute.

Shelbourne should have wrapped the game up three minutes later when they were awarded another penalty after Stephen Napier handled another Morley shot.

On this occasion goalkeeper Les Fridge made a great one handed save from the Costello spot kick.