Foran sends champions to the top - September 8, 2000 Shelbourne 1 Kilkenny City 0 After a sluggish start to the new league campaign, Shelbourne are beginning to find their feet and moved top after a tight 1-0 win against Kilkenny at Tolka Park on Friday night (08-09-2000). The game was a boring affair with Kilkenny setting out their stall for a draw and they nearly achieved this until Dessie Baker was introduced as a second-half substitute to change to run of the game. Baker crossed to the back post for Richie Foran to score, but the young striker took his celebrations too far and was sent off. He had earned a yellow card earlier in the game and when he took off his shirt to celebrate his goal, there was only going to be one outcome. Referees are not allowed to use common sense on the field and Eddie Barr was left with no choice but to book Foran for the second time, which meant he had to walk. Kilkenny could have had a share of the spoils in the closing stages but they were denied what looked a nailed-on penalty when Sean Murray was hacked down in the box by Shelbourne goalkeeper Steve Williams.
Shelbourne: Williams, Heary, McCarthy, Scully, Hutchinson, Fenlon, Byrne, Doolin, R. Baker, Foran, Keddy. |