Champs too good for Cats - December 3, 2000
Kilkenny City 0 Shelbourne 3
Kilkenny City finally got the chance to debut their three recent signings -but they were still no match for reigning champions Shelbourne.
Northern Ireland u21 international midfielder Paul McAreavey, Portuguese striker Carlos Rocha and New Zealand centre back Gavin Wilkinson must now be wondering how they ended up at Buckley Park, where the pall of relegation pervades every corner.
The home team started brightly and Shels 'keeper Steve Williams earned his wages in the first half hour. But the Cats soon reverted to type and it all went a bit pear-shaped after goalkeeper Matt Nelson handled outside his box on 33 minutes. Hutchison's free kick was half cleared but Dessie Baker pounced to despatch the loose ball.
After the break it was all one-way traffic. Neat passing carved an opening for Richie Foran to fire the second in the 67th minute and Jim Crawford rose to head home another Hutchison free eight minutes from time.
Kilkenny City: Nelson, Brennan, Brunton, Riordan, Wilkinson, O'Hanlon, McGrath, Purdy, McAreavey, Rocha, Murray
Subs: Parkes for Murray 53, Costello for Wilkinson 71
Booked: Nelson, Riordan, Parkes
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, D Geoghegan, McCarthy, Scully, Crawford, D Baker, Fenlon, Foran, Hutchison, R Baker
Goals: D Baker 33, Foran 67, Crawford 82
Booked: Heary, Foran, Crawford
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin)