FITTINGLY, for the emerging pop hero of the domestic game, Tony Sheridan could pass as one of the Gallagher brothers from Oasis. With his shirt hanging out, he has that hint of the free spirit as well. Then there are his sublime skills. On Saturday night at the Showgrounds, his wonder goal propelled Shelbourne to the FAI Cup final.
His one moment of brilliance was the difference between the teams. On a night when the air was thick with tension, it seemed as if an error or moment of madness was going to prove decisive.
Indeed, some may point to a minute mis judgement by the Sligo full back Robbie Brunton, but it required a moment of genius to punish it. Brunton anticipated Alan Gough's quick counter attacking throw to Sheridan and missed his attempted interception by a whisker to leave Sheridan run free.
Interestingly, the watching former Sligo manager, Lawrie Sanichez, slumped in a rare flicker of emotion. As Sheridan was still inside his half, there was some work to be done, but off he set. Brunton and Padraig Moran worked hard to close down Shelbourne's attacking right sided midfielder. It only forced his hand.
Mark McLean was no more than seven or eight yards off his line, but it was sufficient for Sheridan to beat him from 25 yards with a deft lob on the run which dipped dramatically under the bar. Breathtaking.
It was tough on Brunton, tougher still on the majority of the 6,000 crowd and on Rovers, who have now suffered two Cup semi final and two league defeats at the Showgrounds either side of a two legged League Cup final defeat to their nemesis. Rovers forced most of the match and had more of the chances, but they were kept at bay by a combination of Shelbourne's discipline and luck and, most of all, by the inspired shot stopping of Gough.
Appropriately, be instigated the winning goal.
The game may have not been a cracker, but there was always a willingness to take risks in the pursuit of the win. Brunton was cruelly punished, but neither goalkeeper in Friday's scoreless semi final attempted to do what Gough did.
For even endeavouring to play the ball out from the back, and pass it around Shelbourne deserve credit. Gary Howlett showed hints of a return to form, especially when hitting measured crossfield balls to Mark Rutherford, and Stephen Geoghegan's mobility and control were again first rate. Sheridan was forever dangerous, though in actual fact faded in the second half.
However, they never established their passing game for sustained spells. Instead their smash and grab, away win was built on foundations provided by their defence.
Nor, until they were chasing the game, did Sligo apply sustained aerial pressure. In part, this was because Greg Costello and Declan Geoghegan clipped the wing play of Moran and a subdued Johnny Kenny.
Nevertheless, Gough hasn't the height to command his area and, initially, a Mick Neville less Shelbourne were affording Sligo too many free headers from set pieces for comfort. In the first 23 minutes, Brendan Aspinall, Andy Ramage and James Mulligan couldn't convert them.
Gradually, Shelbourne minimised their opportunities (conceding just three frees after halftime), while Ray Duffy rose to the challenge, despite a head wound swathed in stained bandages.
Bloody but unbowed. Behind him, Gough was inspired, denying Mulligan man to man on the hour and Moran from point blank range, before Ian Gilzean fired over and Gavin Dykes headed over.
Despite sporadically threatening to carve Sligo open with some pretty patterns, the closest Shelbourne came was through a 24th minute corner when Dave Reid and McLean, in turn, denied Stephen Geoghegan on the line. Shelbourne's only other shot was a casual 66th minute effort from Sheridan. Six minutes later, his radar was adjusted to perfection.
"Pure class. If anybody is going to produce something like that it's Tony Sheridan," purred Damien Richardson, Sheridan's biggest fan, harshest critic and best ever manager. Reiterating a well worn theme, Richardson said: "Tony Sheridan is up there, at 21, as one of the best League of Ireland footballers, technically, that there's ever been.
Richardson first took Sheridan over to Gillingham when he was 13, and the player's intervening failure at Coventry is as much an indictment of the English game as it is of Sheridan. "He knows he didn't do himself justice. He knows where he went wrong. But there still should have been somebody in the English game to take what should be a jewel - and will be a jewel - and polish him properly.
Richardson is doing that now. Getting the individualism of the gifted ex Youths international into the Shelbourne system had teething problems. Amid some careful handling, it should also be recalled that Richardson dropped Sheridan to two games in November after some wayward performances. Sheridan accepts he is more of a team player now, more committed to tackling and even tracking back though Greg Costello mightn't agree entirely.
England remains Sheridan's goal. "I didn't get on with (the Coventry manager) Phil Neal and the stars, and I just let my football go down. I'd be more prepared than what I was the last time because I hadn't got any experience, but this time, if it does happen, I'm going to give it a good go. I'm only 21," he said.
"If, it doesn't happen this year there's always next year.
With another season of his contract to run, Sheridan's rebirth is a credit to Richardson,
Shelbourne and the domestic game. He cut quite a sight in the Sligo car park, besieged by reporters and weighed down with his new adidas boots, a Man of the Match trophy, and perhaps somewhere on his person the docket for a £5 bet - at 6/1 - on himself to score the first goal. "I told all my mates in Crumlin that I was going to score, so hopefully they put a few bob on me as well."
. The FAI Harp Lager Cup final may be switched from its scheduled date of Sunday, May 5th to avoid a clash with the proposed live television coverage to the concluding day of the English Premiership. With Lansdowne Road hosting the first all Dublin final since UCD beat Shamrock Rovers in 1984, several evening kickoffs are being considered, including May 3rd, 8th and 10th.
