Seán Boyd the hero again to keep Shelbourne at summit

In a historic week for Shelbourne with their future at Tolka Park finally secured, the celebrations continued as Damien Duff’s side maintained their one-point lead at the top with victory over Waterford.

Seán Boyd came off the bench to score the all-important winner on 73 minutes with his third goal in as many games, in a clash the Reds dominated in as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.

The one-goal margin would have been greater had Waterford ‘keeper Sam Sargeant not pulled off several fine saves to keep his side in the game. Despite having the best away form in the league, Keith Long’s men were second best here as they drop to fifth place.

After three successive draws, this was a deserved three points for Shels ahead of two huge away Dublin derbies, with Monday’s trip to Stephen Kenny’s Saints followed by a visit to champions Shamrock Rovers next Friday.

Three words on a huge black and white banner greeted the Reds as they made their way onto the turf here - ‘Save Tolka Park’ - after Monday’s news that Dublin City Council had moved to grant the club a 250-year lease for the ground.

Spurred on by that touching display, the hosts started brilliantly and had three fine chances inside the opening 10 minutes to open the scoring.

With three minutes on the clock a poor pass by Dean McMenamy allowed Will Jarvis in on goal but the winger, on loan from Hull City, saw his effort well blocked by Grant Horton inside the visiting box.

Seconds later, a cool backheel from Matty Smith on the edge of the box allowed John Martin unleash a strike that looked destined for the top corner, but the striker was denied by a stunning save from Sargeant who clawed it over the crossbar.

The early opportunities kept coming for the Reds as, on seven minutes, Mark Coyle’s sublime through ball put Smith one-on-one with the Blues ‘keeper, who came to the rescue again to deny the Scot with a point-blank save.

After two excellent saves, Sargeant made a rare error just before the half-hour mark, as he collected the ball inside his box but then held on to it for 27 seconds. This led to the referee awarding an in-direct free-kick, which Paddy Barrett squared across to Gavin Molloy, but the defender scuffed his effort, much to the Blues keeper’s relief.

Shels came forward again on 35 minutes as Smith’s winding run around the box found Jarvis at the back post, only to be denied by an impressive block from Horton, who used to play his football down the road from Tolka at Bohemians before he arrived on the south east last February.

Waterford boss Long, who was booked in the first-half, would not have been pleased with his side’s first-half display as their only half-chance of the opening 45 came through Dean McMenamy, whose shot from distance was easily saved by Shels number one Conor Kearns.

Jarvis’ effort seconds after the restart proved no trouble for Sargeant, as did a similar chance from the 21-year-old before the hour mark, but with the Reds still searching for the elusive opener, Duff turned to his bench and introduced Boyd and Liam Burt.

They almost made an instant impact as Boyd saw his bullet header from Evan Caffrey’s corner denied courtesy of a smashing save from Sargeant, just seconds after the flew across his line to prevent Jarvis’ attempt on goal.

After a series of superb saves, Sargeant was eventually beaten 17 minutes from time as the ball broke to Boyd inside the box. The striker showed great composure to cut back inside, pick his spot and caressed the ball into the bottom corner.

The Swords man wheeled away in celebration in front of the Riverside stand and it was no more than Duff’s side deserved here.

There was huge relief around Tolka as substitute Gbemi Arubi somehow squandered a huge chance to head the visitors level from close range, but the Reds held on for the victory.A historic week for Shelbourne ends with three points and up next, a trip across the Liffey to face Kenny’s St Pat’s.

Shelbourne: Kearns; Gannon, Molloy, Barrett (Temple 90), Ledwidge; Lunney (Burt 60), Coyle, Caffrey; Jarvis (Wilson 90), Smith (O’Sullivan 75); Martin (Boyd 60).

Waterford: Sargeant; Leahy, McCourt, Horton, Radkowski (Macadam 46), Power (Arubi 85); McDonald, McMenamy (McCormack 73); Asamoah, Parsons (Pattisson 60); Amond.

Ref: R Harvey.

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