Much changed Shelbourne still too strong for Fairview Rangers in FAI Cup
Champions League chasing Shelbourne kept their domestic matters on track with a comfortable victory over Limerick's Fairview Rangers. A completely changed and youthful Reds XI had far too much for the junior side.
Shels boss Joey O'Brien kept Wednesday's Champions League tie with Qarabag in mind and made 11 changes from the mid-week tie against Linfield.
It was a squad bulging with talent from their own academy as treble from John Martin as well as Daniel Kelly's effort put them into Tuesday's draw.
Those selected would have been eager to make an impression, especially with the volume of European games the Dublin outfit will hope to be involved in during the Autumn. And it took little time for them to make their mark.
Inside four minutes they had the advantage as James Norris centred smartly and unselfishly to John Martin, who finished neatly.
A fifth goal of the season for the ex-Dundalk attacker who almost opened the scoring inside sixty second but for smart defending by Jake Dillon on the goal line.
John Martin of Shelbourne with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor.
Fairview, the current FAI Junior Cup kingpins were only returning to action after concluding an historic season domestic in mid-June.
They won the Limerick District League, the prestigious Lawson Cup and also the remarkable 10th FAI Junior Cup title, which maintained their perfect record in finals in that competition.
The visitors doubled their advantage on 24 minutes, when Daniel Kelly read the long ball from 'keeper Lorcan Healy. The Fairview keeper hesitated to allow the pacy Kelly to stroll around him and dispatch into an empty net.
Gbadebo Habideen had a tentative penalty appeal waved away for the 'View, as the hosts enjoyed a second enough second quarter.
The experienced Jeffrey Judge almost halved the lead with the last act of the half, curling narrowly wide from a narrowing angle.
It remained a comfortable two goal lead at the change of ends for the current League of Ireland champions.
It was 3-0 entering the final quarter as captain for the day, Seán Boyd, headed down to Martin who volleyed home.
Debuts at this level came late for subs Offor Raymond, James Bailey and Daniel Ring before Martin completed his hat-trick five minutes from time – this time Aderinsola Adewale delivered the final pass.
Fairview Rangers: J McCarthy; J Dillon (C), T O'Connor, J Cross, B Ahern (D O'Neill 22); J Judge, C Kavanagh (S Carmody 67); O Vysochan (J McCarthy 67), C McNamara, A Dore (R McCarthy 67); G Habideen (C Lategan 80).
Shelbourne: L Healy; J Roche, L Temple, S Bone; D Kelly (C Ryan 55) , A Moloney (A Adewale 55), E Chapman (D Ring 79), J O'Sullivan, J Norris (R Offor 79); J Martin, S Boyd (C) (J Bailey 79).
Referee: M Lynch.
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