Shels show true mettle - January 27,
2001
Shelbourne 3 Bray Wanderers 2
The reigning champions showed their stuff by taking all the points in a cracking must-win game, to which Bray Wanderers - unbeaten in 13 before this - made a full contribution.
The teams jabbed and moved for the first 45 and though there were openings, neither side landed the killer punch - though Mick Doohan had to clear off the line from Fenlon and a James Keddy shot shaved the crossbar.
Bray's Paul Keegan, whose physical presence has proved too much for most teams this season but not for the equally physical Pat Scully and Tony McCarthy, made way at half time for Kieran O'Brien.
Things began to happen almost immediately - but not for Bray! Instead it was Richie Foran who cracked it with three minutes elapsed, nipping in to get the vital touch on Richie Baker's cross.
Foran turned creator for the next, chasing down a long ball and then crossing for James Keddy to apply the finish. But Barry O'Connor pulled one back, skipping around Owen Heary before firing low past Williams.
Foran restored Shelbourne's lead in the 78th, beating Jodie Lynch to a long ball and heading past the advancing John Walsh.
But Bray still weren't done and, with three minutes left on the clock, Colm Tresson arrived in the box to finish off a passage of head tennis.
And the Seasiders thought they had won a penalty in injury time, claiming Pat Scully had handled Jodie Lynch's cross. Ref John McDermott didn't want to know about it!
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, Scully, McCarthy, Geoghegan, R Baker, Doolin, Fenlon, Crawford, Keddy, Foran
Sub: Hutchison for Geoghegan 76
Goals: Foran 48, 77, Keddy 57
Booked: Fenlon
Bray Wanderers: Walsh, Britton, Lynch, Doohan, Farrell, O'Connor, Gormley, Tresson, Keogh, Keegan, Byrne
Sub: O'Brien for Keegan 45, Campbell for Doohan 87, Long for Gormley 67
Goals: O'Connor 69, Tresson 87
Booked: Gormley
Referee: John McDermott (Dublin)