2007 Shelbourne F.C. season

In the 2007 season, Shelbourne finished 5th in the League of Ireland First Division.

Shelbourne
2007 season
ChairmanJoe Casey
ManagerDermot Keely
First Division5th
FAI CupSecond Round
League CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Mark Leech (12)

All:
Mark Leech (12)
Highest home attendance1,896 vs Dundalk (23 March 2007)
Lowest home attendance549 vs Finn Harps (12 August 2007)
2008 Season →

Overview

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Following the financial crisis of 2006, at the start of the 2007 season, the club was left with just two senior players by January, and the club's financial crisis resulted in the club pulling out of the Setanta Cup. The crisis even began to threaten their participation in the Champions' League for 2007. Shelbourne's woes were deepened on 25 January 2007 when owner and general manager, Ollie Byrne, was taken to hospital with a reported brain tumour, most likely, stress-induced.

Shelbourne, with no manager and just one remaining senior player by February were said to be massively in debt – some reports putting it at €6 million, and others between even €10 million and €12 million. The fiasco only served to increase the pressures on the FAI, who already had to find two new replacement clubs to participate in the league following the extinction of Dublin City F.C. and Limerick F.C. in 2006. The association decided to set up a review of the awarding of a Premier Division licence to the club and eventually decided that the club should be stripped of the chance to compete in the Premier Division. Shelbourne had their Premier licence revoked and were, instead, considered lucky to be placed in the First Division for the 2007 season. There had been worries that the club would face outright extinction and that the FAI would throw the club out of the league altogether, especially after Limerick, who had less severe problems than Shelbourne, were denied a First Division licence. Liam Moggan, the chairman of the FAI's Licensing Committee resigned in protest after the decision was made to grant Shelbourne a First Division licence as he believed that the club - manager-less, player-less and heavily in the red - did not meet the criteria for the awarding of such a licence, even though its criteria were less strict than those required to pass for a Premier licence. It is probable that the Committee as a whole took an extremely sympathetic view while taking into account the long history of the club and, facing a minimal time-frame for exploring alternatives before the kick-off in March, logistical factors, such as ensuring that the league began with the preferred number of teams, when coming to a final decision to keep Shelbourne in the league.

However, the FAI did not specifically announce whether their decision was punishment for continuing off-the-field abuses from 2006, such as failing to pay players their wages, or whether it was a repercussion of Shelbourne failing to meet the requisite criteria for partaking in the 2007 Premier Division (although it is likely that the course of action taken was due to the latter as if it were a punishment for the 2006 season a deduction in points from that season's tally would be the usual penalty, which would have led to the club being stripped of their title in this scenario). If the relegation was indeed due to a failure to meet standards for 2007, the club's off-the-field abuses during 2006 remain to be seen as having been permissible for that season.

Meanwhile, Waterford United were invited to take Shelbourne's place in the Premier Division for 2007 as they were the next best-placed First Division club in the Independent Assessment Group's rankings. Waterford United accepted the invitation, while the task of sourcing funds, a manager and squad before the transfer-deadline of 28 February remained at the forefront of the club's worries by mid-February. On 23 February, Shelbourne announced that Dermot Keely had been appointed as their new manager.[1] The signing of a new squad of players commenced immediately afterward - quite a few of these players being youngsters and loaned players from other clubs, although the club did also manage to entice a number of ripened seniors to Tolka Park for the 2007 season.

Club

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Club information

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Chairman, Director Joseph M Casey
Director Andy Byrne
Secretary Colm Murphy
Commercial Manager Niall Fitzmaurice
Ground Tolka Park

Commercial partners

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Title Sponsor
Main Sponsor JW Hire
Kit, Associate Sponsor Umbro
Associate Sponsor Nivea for Men
Associate Sponsor Irish Daily Star
Associate Sponsor Bus Éireann
Associate Sponsor Dulux

Coaching and Medical staff

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Position Name
Manager Dermot Keely
Assistant manager Colin O'Neill
Goalkeeping coach Fred Davis
Head physio Tony McCarthy
Assistant physio Stephen Weafer
Equipment Manager Pat Roche
Kit Administrator Johnny Watson

Pre-season

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Exodus

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This is the squad that completed the 2006 season, winning the Premier Division in the process. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   WAL Steve Williams
2 DF   IRL Owen Heary (c)
3 DF   IRL David Crawley
4 DF   ENG Dave Rogers
5 DF   WAL Jamie Harris
6 MF   IRL Jim Crawford
7 MF   IRL Ollie Cahill
8 MF   IRL Stuart Byrne
9 FW   IRL Glen Crowe
10 FW   IRL Jason Byrne
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 MF   IRL Greg O'Halloran
14 MF   IRL Richie Baker
15 MF   IRL Alan Moore
16 FW   IRL Gary O'Neill
17 MF   IRL Bobby Ryan
18 MF   CMR Joseph Ndo
19 DF   IRL Colin Hawkins
20 GK   IRL Dean Delany
22 DF   IRL Sean Dillon
24 MF   IRL Liam Kearney

The following players were registered to Shelbourne, but had been sent out on loan by the then manager Pat Fenlon.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   IRL James Chambers (on loan at Waterford United)
MF   IRL David Tyrell (on loan at Bray Wanderers)
MF   IRL Gary Deegan (on loan at Kilkenny City)

Following the ongoing financial problems during the 2006 season, Pat Fenlon resigned and the vast majority of players left. Several of them had reached the end of their contracts, whilst some were sold shortly after the celebrations in November, and others left after being declared free agents in the courts following missed payment of wages. Only 2 senior players remained with the club, the experienced Jim Crawford, and the young James Chambers who had spent 2006 on loan at Premier Division side Waterford United.

Withdrawal from the Setanta Cup

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In February Shelbourne were forced to withdraw from the 2007 Setanta Sports Cup shortly before it was due to commence. The general assumption was that the club would be unable to field a team. St. Patrick's Athletic were invited to fill the vacancy, and they duly accepted.

Demotion

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Before the start of the new league season, the club were demoted to the First Division by the FAI.

The FAI issued a First Division licence in place of the Premier Division licence which had been revoked by order of the FAI's First Instance Committee due to the financial situation. Shortly after this, the club's majority shareholder Ollie Byrne suffered a brain tumour and Joe Casey was installed as Chairman.

Former manager Dermot Keely was brought in as manager once more and assembled a squad of players in barely 72 hours - just in time for the club to take its place in the 2007 First Division.

Withdrawal from Champions League

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On 30 March 2007, when applications for UEFA licences were nearly due and the clubs' First Division licence was up for review, Shelbourne announced that they would not be applying for a UEFA licence; thus relinquishing the Champions League spot that was rewarded for winning the league in 2006. Part of the statement read:

The club feels that following its recent success over the last number of years it would not be of benefit to the club's record to play in this year's Champions League qualifying round. It also felt that it would be of no benefit to the league's co-efficient in Europe.

League runners-up Derry City were handed the Champions League place.[2][3][4]


Players

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Jim Crawford and James Chambers were the only existing senior players to stay with the club for the 2007 season. Jim was appointed captain by Keely. Goalkeeper Tony O'Dowd signed for Shelbourne, returning to the club with whom he had started his footballing career. Experienced defender Alan Murphy was signed from Longford Town and was appointed vice-captain, whilst a plethora of young players arrived from a host of clubs.

Mark Leech signed on a season-long loan from Premier Division club Drogheda United, and new Derry City arrival Kyle Moran did the same.

Four players arrived at Shelbourne from Dublin rivals Bohemians; Conor Rafferty and 2006's top scorer for the First Division Davitt Walsh signed on loan deals until the end of July, defenders Aidan Collins and Niall O'Reilly made their moves to Tolka Park permanent.

FIFA Regulations: Article 5.3

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Two of Shelbourne's new players, Mark Leech and John Brophy, who had already played with two clubs within the year prior to the season's kick-off, were left ineligible to play for the club in competitive action until July at the beginning of the season as FIFA's rules, or, in particular, Article 5.3 of FIFA’s Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players, stated that no player could play for more than two different clubs between 1 July of one season and 30 June of the following year.

Both players were eventually cleared by FIFA, and made their competitive debuts in a 1-1 draw with Kilkenny City at Buckley Park on 30 March 2007.

2007 squad

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A total of 37 players represented Shelbourne at various stages during the 2007 season.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   IRL Tony O'Dowd
GK   IRL James Hussey
DF   IRL Niall O'Reilly
DF   IRL Aidan Collins
DF   IRL Alan Murphy (Vice-captain)
DF   IRL Aaran McEneff
DF   IRL Daniel Ennis
DF   IRL Brian Gartland
DF   SCO Stuart Malcolm
DF   IRL Sean L'Estrange
DF   SCO Marc McCulloch
DF   IRL Alan Keely
DF   IRL Conor Rafferty (was on loan from Bohemians)
MF   IRL Jim Crawford (Captain)
MF   IRL Kieran Harte
MF   IRL Glen Lacey
MF   IRL Robbie O'Neill
MF   IRL Mark O'Brien (was on loan from Bohemians)
MF   IRL Graham Curran
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF   IRL Peter McGlynn
MF   IRL Alan Reilly
MF   IRL Joey O'Neill
MF   IRL Noel Haverty (was on loan from St. Patrick's Athletic)
MF   IRL James Chambers
MF   IRL Ciarán Ryan
MF   IRL Chris Mulhall
MF   IRL Stephen Doran
FW   IRL Darren McKenna
FW   IRL John Brophy
FW   IRL Mark Leech (was on loan from Drogheda United)
FW   IRL Anto Flood
FW   IRL Lee Roche
FW   IRL Mark Rooney
FW   IRL Davitt Walsh (was on loan from Bohemians)
FW   IRL Wayne Byrne
FW   IRL Ciaran Quinn
FW   IRL Kyle Moran (was on loan from Derry City)

Results

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League of Ireland First Division

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9 March 2007 Shelbourne 2 – 2 Kildare County Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 GMT Brian Gartland   14'
Darren McKenna   88'
Report Philip Gorman   4' (pen.)
Gary Walsh   28'
Attendance: 1,697
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
16 March 2007 Finn Harps 2 – 1 Shelbourne Finn Park, Ballybofey
19:45 GMT Gordon Simms   9'
Conor Gethins   90'
Report Davitt Walsh   66' Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
23 March 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 2 Dundalk Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 GMT Report Philip Hughes   52' (pen.)
Shaun Williams   80'
Ben Whelehan   70'
Attendance: 1,896
Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin)
30 March 2007 Kilkenny City 1 – 1 Shelbourne Buckley Park, Kilkenny
19:45 GMT Michael Comerford   41'
Andrzej Polewczak   12'
Report[permanent dead link] Mark Leech   12' Referee: Tomasz Superczynski (Dublin)
6 April 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 0 Athlone Town Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Mark Leech   75' Report Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick)
13 April 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 1 Monaghan United Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST James Chambers   67' Report Peter D'arcy   22'
Darren Meenan   86'
Attendance: 1,011
Referee: Pádraig Sutton (Clare)
21 April 2007 Cobh Ramblers 1 – 0 Shelbourne St. Colman's Park, Cobh
19:30 IST Graham Cummins   90+1' Report Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
27 April 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 1 Limerick 37 Whitehall, Dublin
20:00 IST Kyle Moran   61' Report David Wall   46' Attendance: 894
Referee: Scott MacDonald (Scotland)
4 May 2007 Wexford Youths 1 – 1 Shelbourne Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford
20:00 IST Aidan Collins (o.g.)   74' Report Alan Murphy   45' Attendance: 1,221
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
12 May 2007 Kildare County 1 – 1 Shelbourne Station Road, Newbridge
19:30 IST Alan McDermott   50'
Alan Byrne   48'
Report Darren McKenna   45' Attendance: 510
Referee: Edwin McNally (Cork)
24 May 2007 Dundalk 3 – 0 Shelbourne Oriel Park, Dundalk
19:45 IST David Crawley   2'
Cathal O'Connor   65'
Philip Hughes   77'
Report Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
28 May 2007 Shelbourne 2 – 0 Kilkenny City Tolka Park, Dublin
19:45 IST James Chambers   32'
Glen Lacey   76'
Davitt Walsh   83'
Report Attendance: 563
Referee: Tomasz Superczynski (Dublin)
2 June 2007 Athlone Town 1 – 0 Shelbourne Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone
19:00 IST Ian Rossiter   50' (pen.)
Eric Lavine   60'
Report Glen Lacey   68'
Alan Murphy   69'
Attendance: 807
Referee: Pádraig Sutton (Clare)
22 June 2007 Monaghan United 4 – 0 Shelbourne Kingspan Century Park, Monaghan
20:00 IST Willie Doyle   20'
Darren Meenan   26'   82'
Robbie Farrell   44'
Report Referee: Conor Fitzgerald (Dublin)
26 June 2007 Shelbourne 2 – 2 Cobh Ramblers Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Mark Leech   11'
James Chambers   75' (pen.)
Report Brian Gartland   1' (o.g.)
Graham Cummins   63'
Attendance: 648
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
29 June 2007 Limerick 37 3 – 2 Shelbourne Jackman Park, Limerick
19:45 IST Ross Cosgrove   51'
Kevin Waters   77'
Paul Danaher   90'
Report Graham Curran   22'
Kieran Harte   68'
Attendance: 801
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
6 July 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 0 Wexford Youths Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Mark Leech   75' Report Attendance: 754
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
20 July 2007 Finn Harps 1 – 0 Shelbourne Finn Park, Ballybofey
20:00 IST Stephen Parkhouse   17' Report Mark Leech   31' Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin)
27 July 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 0 Dundalk Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Anto Flood   17' Report Attendance: 1,186
Referee: Pádraig Sutton (Clare)
31 July 2007 Kilkenny City 2 – 5 Shelbourne Buckley Park, Kilkenny
19:45 IST Ted O'Connor   32'
John McNicholas   79'
Report Anto Flood   35'   58'   74'
Stuart Malcolm   48'
James Chambers   80' (pen.)
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
3 August 2007 Shelbourne 2 – 0 Athlone Town Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST James Chambers   34'
Anto Flood   68'
Report Attendance: 889
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin)
10 August 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 1 Monaghan United Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Mark Leech   79' Report Jason McCartney   85' Attendance: 746
Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick)
12 August 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 1 Finn Harps Tolka Park, Dublin
17:00 IST Report Shaun Holmes   90+5' Attendance: 549
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
25 August 2007 Cobh Ramblers 1 – 1 Shelbourne St. Colman's Park, Cobh
19:45 IST Davin O'Neill   31' (pen.) Report Anto Flood   22'
Alan Reilly   81'
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
1 September 2007 Shelbourne 4 – 0 Limerick 37 Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Aidan Collins   10'
Mark Leech   24'   73'
Ciaran Quinn   75'
Report Attendance: 767
Referee: Tomasz Superczynski (Dublin)
7 September 2007 Wexford Youths 1 – 2 Shelbourne Ferrycarrig Park, Wexford
20:00 IST Johnny Flynn-O'Connor   12' Report Mark Leech   38'
James Chambers   80'
Referee: Conor Fitzgerald (Dublin)
15 September 2007 Kildare County 1 – 4 Shelbourne Station Road, Newbridge
19:30 IST Stephen Cooling   66' Report James Chambers   12'
Mark Leech   45'   71'
Anto Flood   88'
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath)
21 September 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 2 Finn Harps Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Alan Keely   9' Report Shaun McGowan   53'   90+1' Attendance: 767
Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin)
23 September 2007 Shelbourne 2 – 1 Kildare County Tolka Park, Dublin
16:00 IST Anto Flood   51'
Mark Leech   84'
Report Dean Barrett   90+1' Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin)
27 September 2007 Dundalk 1 – 0 Shelbourne Oriel Park, Dundalk
19:45 IST Robbie Doyle   16' Report Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
5 October 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 0 Kilkenny City Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Report Attendance: 702
Referee: Darren Eady (Wales)
12 October 2007 Athlone Town 1 – 4 Shelbourne Athlone Town Stadium, Athlone
19:45 IST Noel McGee   73' Report Anto Flood   35'   62'
Mark Rooney   36'
Mark O'Brien   39'
Attendance: 470
Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin)
19 October 2007 Monaghan United 1 – 0 Shelbourne Kingspan Century Park, Monaghan
20:00 IST Darren Meenan   76' Report Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
26 October 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 2 Cobh Ramblers Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Anto Flood   44' Report Kieran O'Reilly   49'
Graham Cummins   69'
Attendance: 714
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath)
2 November 2007 Limerick 37 2 – 1 Shelbourne Jackman Park, Limerick
19:45 GMT Pat Purcell   44'
John Tierney   60' (pen.)   88' (pen.)
Report Mark Rooney   52'
Stuart Malcolm   87'
James Chambers   87'
Attendance: 603
Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Meath)
10 November 2007 Shelbourne 1 – 3 Wexford Youths Tolka Park, Dublin
19:45 GMT Mark Leech   90+2' Report Johnny Flynn-O'Connor   30'
Garrett Larkin   66'
Conor Sinnott   73' (pen.)
Attendance: 720
Referee: Pádraig Sutton (Clare)

Final table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cobh Ramblers (C) 36 22 11 3 57 17 +40 77 Premier Division / Setanta Cup play-off
2 Finn Harps 36 23 7 6 61 20 +41 76 Premier Division after play-off
3 Dundalk 36 19 9 8 56 30 +26 66 Lost promotion/relegation play-off
4 Limerick 37[a] 36 14 11 11 46 41 +5 53
5 Shelbourne 36 11 10 15 46 46 0 43
6 Athlone Town 36 11 8 17 40 55 −15 41
7 Kildare County 36 9 12 15 48 62 −14 39
8 Monaghan United 36 9 11 16 38 52 −14 38
9 Wexford Youths[b] 36 7 10 19 32 55 −23 31
10 Kilkenny City 36 5 11 20 33 79 −46 26
Source: [5][6]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. ^ Limerick 37 replaced Limerick F.C. as members of League of Ireland.
  2. ^ Wexford Youths replaced Dublin City as members of League of Ireland.

League results summary

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Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
36 11 10 15 46 46  0 43 7 6 5 23 18  +5 4 4 10 23 28  −5

Last updated: 10 November 2007.
Source: League of Ireland First Division Fixtures

League Form/Results by Round

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Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
GroundHAHAHHAHAAAHAAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHHAHAAHAH
ResultDLLDWDLDDDLWLLDLWLWWWDLDWWWLWLDWLLLL
Updated to match(es) played on 10 November 2007. Source: League of Ireland First Division Fixtures
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FAI Ford Cup

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The draw for the FAI Ford Cup took place on 31 May 2007. Shels, like all League sides, automatically went into the second round.

15 June 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 1 Cork City Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Report Roy O'Donovan   7' (pen.) Attendance: 1,002
Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin)

League of Ireland Cup

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Shelbourne began the League of Ireland Cup in the Second Round, as the club was officially classed as European entrants when the draws were made. Shelbourne were drawn against Dublin rivals Bohemians, who had begun the 2007 season in the top flight with two of last year's championship winning Shelbourne team, Owen Heary and Glen Crowe. Despite a valiant effort from the young Shelbourne team, the difference in quality eventually told, with Bohemians qualifying for the next round due to 2 late goals from the man who had scored the goal that won Shelbourne the league just a few short months previous, Glen Crowe.

8 May 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 2 Bohemians Tolka Park, Dublin
20:00 IST Report Glen Crowe   68'   80' Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin)

Friendlies

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7 July 2007 Shelbourne 0 – 2 Leeds United Tolka Park, Dublin
19.30 IST Report Robbie Blake   30'
David Prutton   76'
Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin)

Season overview

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Shelbourne's 2007 season in the First Division began brightly with a dogged display against Kildare County at Tolka Park less than 2 weeks after their squad was assembled. Darren McKenna's dramatic late equaliser in that game secured a point for Shels giving the Tolka Park side much optimism for the season ahead.

Shels next two games against the much fancied promotion favourites Finn Harps and Dundalk brought the young Shels side back to earth with two defeats, including conceding a last minute equaliser to Harps.

After a frustrating 1-1 draw against 10 man Kilkenny City at Buckley Park, Shels first victory of the season arrived 5 games in against Athlone Town at Tolka Park courtesy of a Mark Leech header. Shels' generally young and inexperienced side failed to build on their first victory and would draw 4 of their next 5 games, their loss during this five game period came courtesy of conceding another last minute goal this time away to Cobh Ramblers. With injuries to notable players such as Jim Crawford and Aidan Collins, Shels' strength in depth would face a stern test during this period.

A heavy 3-0 away defeat to Dundalk in May was countered by an encouraging 2-0 victory at home to Kilkenny City but that game was marred after John Brophy suffered a broken leg after a heavy challenge ruling him out of action for 4 months.

Shels inconsistent start to the season was capped with a 1-0 defeat away to Athlone Town leaving Shels far too close to the foot of the First Division table for their liking. Injuries and player departures would take their toll on Shels during June and Shels suffered their heaviest defeat of the season during this period with a 4-0 defeat away to Monaghan United. Despite encouraging displays against Cobh Ramblers (2-2 draw) and another late defeat this time to Limerick 37 (3-2) would not be not enough to prevent numerous changes during the upcoming July transfer window.

Shelbourne made significant changes at the start of the July transfer window. A total of 11 players joined Shels during the month of July including Stuart Malcolm, Marc McCulloch, Alan Keely, Anto Flood and Mark Rooney while Mark O'Brien and Noel Haverty joined Shels on loan from rivals Bohemians and St. Patrick's Athletic respectively.

The impact of Shels newly assembled squad was felt immediately with a 1-0 victory over Wexford Youths at Tolka Park, only Shels 3rd win of the season. After a 1-0 away defeat to Finn Harps, Shels revitalised themselves with 3 consecutive victories against Dundalk, Kilkenny City and Athlone Town. July's turnaround in Shelbourne's form gave Shels optimism for securing the 3rd place play-off spot.

Shels hopes of securing 3rd place were dashed over one weekend at Tolka Park with a 1-1 draw against Monaghan United and a defeat by Finn Harps with yet another last minute goal conceded.

Shelbourne Football Club was in mourning during August after the death of Chief Executive Ollie Byrne. The first match after Byrne's death came against Limerick 37 at Tolka Park. In what was an emotional night at Tolka Park, Shelbourne provided one of their most impressive displays of the season with a comprehensive 4-0 victory.

Two more victories over Wexford Youths and Kildare County gave Shels much optimism over finishing in 4th place but these ambitions were hit after another defeat to Finn Harps with yet another last minute conceded goal, the third time Shelbourne conceded a last minute winner to Harps this season.

With no promotion prospects during the remainder of the season, Shelbourne's form slipped dramatically during the season run in. Despite a comfortable 4-1 win away to Athlone Town, Shels struggled during this period with a defeat to Dundalk and a disappointing home draw to lowly Kilkenny City.

Shelbourne's finish to the season was one they would rather forget. 4 defeats in their final 4 matches marked a considerable decline in the Shels form after a new lease of life during the months of July and August.

After what was a truly difficult season both on and off the pitch, Shelbourne finished 5th in the First Division table and Mark Leech finished the club's top goalscorer with 12 league goals.

2007 season statistics

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Player appearances/goals

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As of 10 November 2007.

No. Pos Nat Player Total First Division FAI Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FW   IRL John Brophy 13 0 12 0 0 0 1 0
FW   IRL Wayne Byrne 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
MF   IRL James Chambers 34 7 32 7 1 0 1 0
DF   IRL Aidan Collins 18 1 17 1 0 0 1 0
MF   IRL Jim Crawford 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0
MF   IRL Graham Curran 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
MF   IRL Stephen Doran 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
DF   IRL Daniel Ennis 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
FW   IRL Anto Flood 16 11 16 11 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Brian Gartland 16 1 15 1 1 0 0 0
MF   IRL Kieran Harte 26 1 24 1 1 0 1 0
MF   IRL Noel Haverty 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0
GK   IRL James Hussey 15 0 14 0 1 0 0 0
DF   IRL Alan Keely 18 1 18 1 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Sean L'Estrange 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0
MF   IRL Glen Lacey 27 1 26 1 1 0 0 0
FW   IRL Mark Leech 32 12 30 12 1 0 1 0
DF   SCO Stuart Malcolm 17 1 17 1 0 0 0 0
DF   SCO Marc McCulloch 19 0 19 0 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Aaran McEneff 13 0 11 0 1 0 1 0
MF   IRL Peter McGlynn 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
FW   IRL Darren McKenna 11 2 10 2 0 0 1 0
FW   IRL Kyle Moran 10 1 9 1 0 0 1 0
MF   IRL Chris Mulhall 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Alan Murphy 30 1 28 1 1 0 1 0
MF   IRL Mark O'Brien 18 1 18 1 0 0 0 0
GK   IRL Tony O'Dowd 26 0 25 0 0 0 1 0
MF   IRL Joey O'Neill 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF   IRL Robbie O'Neill 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Niall O'Reilly 15 0 13 0 1 0 1 0
FW   IRL Ciaran Quinn 8 1 8 1 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Conor Rafferty 12 0 11 0 1 0 0 0
MF   IRL Alan Reilly 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
FW   IRL Lee Roche 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
FW   IRL Mark Rooney 17 2 17 2 0 0 0 0
DF   IRL Ciarán Ryan 9 0 8 0 0 0 1 0
FW   IRL Davitt Walsh 13 1 12 1 1 0 0 0

Top goalscorers

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Position Goalscorer Total Goals First Division FAI Cup League Cup
1
  Mark Leech
12
12
0
0
2
  Anto Flood
11
11
0
0
3
  James Chambers
7
7
0
0
4
  Darren McKenna
2
2
0
0
  Mark Rooney
2
2
0
0
6
  Aidan Collins
1
1
0
0
  Graham Curran
1
1
0
0
  Brian Gartland
1
1
0
0
  Kieran Harte
1
1
0
0
  Alan Keely
1
1
0
0
  Glen Lacey
1
1
0
0
  Stuart Malcolm
1
1
0
0
  Kyle Moran
1
1
0
0
  Alan Murphy
1
1
0
0
  Mark O'Brien
1
1
0
0
  Ciaran Quinn
1
1
0
0
  Davitt Walsh
1
1
0
0

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Shelbourne Statement - Dermot Keely announced as new manager Archived 2012-02-05 at the Wayback Machine", Gareth Penrose, ShelbourneFC.ie, 23 February 2007.
  2. ^ "Shels pull out of Europe", Irish Football Online, 30 March 2007.
  3. ^ "Statement from the Board of Management of Shelbourne FC Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine", Gareth Penrose, Shelbourne FC, 29 March 2007.
  4. ^ "Derry to play in Champions League", BBC Sport Online, 30 March 2007.
  5. ^ "Ireland 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  6. ^ "Ireland 2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 20 July 2016.