IT SEEMED improbable, but this one lived up to its stellar billing. And there was even a dramatic injury-time winner for Shelbourne, which kept the Reds clear at the top regardless of the outcome at Tallaght Stadium. Three Shelbourne substitutes linked up to score - Dean Williams on the left inside to Tyreke Wilson, who found Evan Caffrey on the penalty spot.
He shifted the ball from his right to left foot and slotted it just inside the right-hand post to send the Shels bench racing onto the pitch in celebration. There were words exchanged between both sets of coaching teams and a red card to Shels goalkeeping coach Paul Skinner, as tempers frayed. A flare was thrown onto the pitch from the Shels end, as the visiting fans celebrated with their players.
What an end to a night that promised fireworks. It was Kenny versus Duff. The former Ireland manager against his former number three, who just happens to be an international centurion.
Richmond Park was packed to the rafters with 4,811 fans squeezing into every nook and cranny to catch a glimpse of the action. The noise at kick-off was deafening and there was barely a let-up throughout, while Mulraney’s equaliser nearly took the roof off the old main stand. Throw in the presence of Brian Kerr, a one-time friend and mentor to Kenny but now persona non grata when it comes to cups of tea and coffee, and this one was threatening to boil over before kick-off.
Kerr’s presence on Virgin Media’s coverage had been flagged, but whe.