Shelbourne 2 - 2 Kildare County

Shels fight back to earn a point in their first game of the season -

Shelbourne 2-2 Kildare County Demoted eircom League champions Shelbourne trailed twice to Kildare County at Tolka Park on Friday night and needed a late leveller from former Kildare favourite Darren McKenna to secure a point against the Thoroughbreds. Shels have a new manager in Dermot Keely and virtually an entire new squad following the break-up of their title-winning assets of last year. But they will hardly have expected such a rude awakening to First Division life, with Philip Gorman converting from the penalty spot after just four minutes after a foul by Ciaran Ryan inside the area. Brian Gartland levelled for Keely’s men 10 minutes later but Kildare led for the second time when winter recruit from Celtic fired past Tony O’Dowd. It stayed that way for an hour but Shels ensured an unbeaten start to their eircom League season with McKenna’s 88th minute equalizer against his former club. Report courtesy of eleven-a-side Shelbourne: O'Dowd, O'Reilly, Gartland, Rafferty, Ryan, Chambers, Harte, Crawford, Lacey, Walsh, Moran. Subs Used: McKenna for Moran 46', McEniff for Crawford 56', Byrne for Walsh 80'. Kildare County:O’Neill, Donnelly, P Byrne, McDermott, L’Estrange, Walsh, McCrossan, A Byrne, P Rigney, Amond, Gorman. Subs Used: Barrett for Gorman 49', Cronin for Walsh 89,