Saturday 10th March 2007, 1:58 am
9th March 2007
Shelbourne 2
Brian Gartland 14
Darren McKenna 88
Kildare County 2
Phillip Gorman 4 pen
Gary Walsh 28
Tolka Park
Shelbourne got off to a tough start to life in the First Division of the eircom League on Friday night. Last season's league champions - relegated after licensing irregularities needed a late equaliser to clinch a point against Kildare County at Tolka Park.
Kildare attacked from the start and after forcing Shels back for the opening minutes, Phillip Gorman slotted home the lead goal after Kieran Ryan had upended him in the area.
Brian Gartland headed Shelbourne level on 14 minutes as Kildare failed to deal with Glen Lacey's corner kick.
Perhaps showing signs of how little they have worked together, the Shels defence fell to pieces just before the half hour, allowing Gary Walsh in to make it 2-1.
It looked as though Shelbourne were heading for a first night loss until Darren McKenna headed home from another Lacey set-piece in the closing two minutes to avert the loss.
Shelbourne : O'Dowd, O'Reilly, Rafferty, Gartland, Ryan, Chambers, Harte, Crawford (McEniff 56), Lacey, Moran (McKenna 46), Walsh (Byrne 80).
Kildare County : O'Neill, Donnelly, P Byrne, McDermott, L'Estrange, Walsh (Cronin 89), McCrossan, A Byrne, Rigney, Amond, Gorman (Barrett 49).