‘Some mad stuff' - Shels coach on struggles of League of Ireland champions

Irish Daily Mirror

18-05-2025

Shelbourne assistant manager Joey O'Brien says the Reds' title defence is faltering because they are making errors that were absent from their play in recent seasons.
Shels fell to their fourth defeat of the league campaign in last Friday's derby against Bohemians - while they have only one five games so far.
The former West Ham and Ireland defender believes individual mistakes - such as the one that led to Bohs' opener and captain Mark Coyle's red card - are costing them dearly.
Coyle turned into danger at Dalymount Park and reacted by dragging Dayle Rooney down inside the box, resulting in a penalty to Bohs and Coyle's dismissal.
O'Brien was in the dugout last Friday as manager Damien Duff served a suspension - and watched the game from a hill behind the School End of Dalymount Park.
He said: 'We got a turnover of players, you know. So I suppose since last season, the lads leaving in the summer… and then again this season there's been a turnover of players.
'So it's (about) finding a way. But yeah, without a doubt, I suppose the standout thing is we weren't making them (mistakes), we weren't giving up goals that we've given up this year.
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'You look at a lot of the goals we've given up, they've been really, really poor, you know, from an individual point of view; mistakes, ogs, whatnot. Some mad stuff.
'That probably hasn't really happened to us over the last few years.
'But look, as I said, it's just about the lads nailing down the performance, concentrating for 90 minutes and trying to eradicate them out of games.'
Shels aren't the only club this season that are trying to find consistency - but O'Brien expects better from the reigning champions.
'You can do a lot of work, obviously, all you want, and talk about certain things, but if you keep making mistakes regarding the backline, obviously with the goals we've been giving away, it's an uphill task,' he said.
'There's obviously a lot of good teams, not a lot of difference in a lot of the teams, I don't think.
'The first goal (against Bohs) is a massive thing. The first goal is a massive turning point in the game. Obviously it was a bad decision by Mark (Coyle).'
Attention turns to Monday night's visit of high-flying FAI Cup winners Drogheda United - and their form so far this season hasn't surprised O'Brien.
'Obviously, I suppose when you go 15, 16 games, they're where they are in the league for a reason,' he said.
'They finished last season brilliantly and continued that on this year. So it's going to be a tough game.'
Coyle and Harry Wood both miss out tonight after their red cards against Bohs, while Drogheda, denied a win against Derry on Friday by a last-gasp equaliser, are missing Josh Thomas, Paul Doyle and Darragh Markey.
Former Shels man Shane Farrell returns from suspension, for the fourth meeting between these two sides already this season.
Their first, in the President's Cup, was won by Shels, while Drogheda won their opening Premier Division clash, and the latest one, last month, ended in a 2-2 draw.