Kerr McInroy strikes at the death as Shelbourne defeat St Patrick's Athletic
Shelbourne came from behind to win their first SSE Airtricity Premier Division game in six as St Patrick's Athletic lost their fifth away game of the season, with a Kerr McInroy goal in the 90th minute securing a 2-1 victory for the hosts.
St Pat's dominated the opening 45 and deservedly led 1-0 at the break through Mason Melia's third goal of the season.
But Shels manager Damien Duff worked the oracle at the break, making a triple substitution which transformed his side.
Goals from Harry Wood and a late late second goal from McInroy gave the home side a much-needed three points after a recent run that saw the champions pick up only three points from a possible 15.
On a perfect night for football, Sean Gannon dropped out of the Shels side that lost to Waterford, with Sam Bone coming in, as did Tyreke Wilson on the wing.
St Pat's defender Sean Hoare replaced Tom Grivosti, while Chris Forrester, John Martin and their leading goalscorer Aidan Keena also came in from the side that lost in Derry.
There was plenty of early action. However, Keena's left-foot shot from the edge of the area in the fifth minute didn't really put Conor Kearns to the test.
At the other end, Shels skipper Mark Coyle tested the fingers of visiting keeper Joe Anang as he pushed Coyle long-distance effort over the bar.
But it was the home keeper who was the busier in a hectic opening spell as Kearns then saved a goal-bound Zax Elbouzedi shot with his feet, with the keeper denying Kenna's 22-yard free-kick and Forrester's similar effort with diving saves to his right as St Pat's hunted for the opener.
But Kearns had no chance as the visitors took the lead just before the half-hour mark as Spurs-bound Melia (above) picked up a loose ball in the area and his curling shot hit the net via the post.
It was the 17-year-old's third league goal of season and was just reward for all their early pressure.
Kian Leavy fizzed a shot over the Shels bar before the half against a side lacking intensity, an aspect that their manager Damien Duff had alluded to with their recent poor run over the last five games.
Duff rung the changes after the half-time break, bringing on Sean Gannon, Ellis Chapman and James Norris for Wilson, Martin and Bone, and it paid off instantaneously as Shels equalised just two minutes after the restart.
With Forrester lying on the ground with what looked like a hamstring injury, Shels played on as Gannon fed Evan Caffery on the right and his ball across the area was turned into the net by Harry Wood.
The goal transformed Shels and McInroy was just off target with a thumping drive from the edge of the area in the 54th minute.
Damien Duff was booked just after the hour mark for pitch encroachment by referee Kevin O'Sullivan as the intensity increased, with tackles flying in from all angles and with the officials at time struggling to keep control at times in the rarefied atmosphere.
It seemed as if the game was heading for all-square but a poor Joe Redmond header went straight to McInroy, who had time to steady himself and thump the ball past Anang to send the home fans into raptures, while there was disappointment for the healthy travelling support in a sell-out crowd
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Mark Coyle (captain), Sam Bone (James Norris 45), Kameron Ledwidge ; Evan Caffrey, Kerr McInroy, JJ Lunney, Tyreke Wilson (Sean Gannon 45); John Martin (Ellis Chapman 45), Harry Wood (John O'Sullivan 79) ; Mipo Odubeko (Daniel Kelly (90+5)
St Patrick's Athletic: Joseph Anang; Carl Axel Sjoberg,(Conor Carty 90+2) Sean Hoare Joseph Redmond (captain), Anthony Breslin; Chris Forrester (Barry Crowe Baggley 51), Jamie Lennon, Kian Leavy (Brandon Kavanagh (90+2; Zachary Elbouzedi (Jake Mulraney 79), Mason Melia Aidan Keena (Simon Power 79)
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