The 2021 Shelbourne F.C. season was the club's 126th season in existence and their first back in the League of Ireland First Division following relegation from the League of Ireland Premier Division at the end of 2020. Shelbourne won the First Division title and promotion to the Premier Division following a 1–0 win over Treaty United on 1 October 2021. Shelbourne competed in the FAI Cup, but the League of Ireland Cup was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Overview
Shelbourne began the 2021 season with a 0–0 draw away to Galway United; Georgie Poynton, Sean Quinn and Ryan Brennan were the only surviving members of the 2020 squad in the starting eleven, with ex-Cork City defender Kevin O'Connor standing in as captain. New signing Glen McAuley received a red card in the 41st minute for a dangerous challenge on Maurice Nugent in a game which saw 9 players make their Shels debuts. Following a 3–3 draw with Bray Wanderers, Shels picked up their first win of the season at home to Wexford, an own goal by Conor Crowley settling the tie. Shelbourne won 11 out of the next 14 games and club captain Luke Byrne returned to the starting line up for the 1–0 win at home to Athlone Town on 7 May 2021. The Reds topped the league table the following week after their 2–1 win away to Cobh Ramblers, and stayed there unopposed for the rest of the season.
Fans returned to Tolka Park for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on 25 June 2021, with 100 supporters allowed in for the visit of Cork City. The 2–1 win gave Shelbourne an 11-point lead at the top of the league table. Sean Quinn and Glen McAuley departed the club in July, while Eric Molloy, Kameron Ledwidge and Yassine En-Neyah arrived as Shelbourne looked to strengthen their squad ahead of the final ten games. Molloy made his debut as a substitute as Shels exited the FAI Cup in the first round via a 0–2 defeat away to UCD Due to squad absences a much changed team lined up against UCD in the league on 7 August 2021, with Under-19's goalkeeper Jack McCarthy making his debut and keeping a clean sheet after Brendan Clarke and Jack Brady were unavailable for selection. Shelbourne suffered their first defeat of the season away to Galway United the following week, but would only lose one other game during the remainder of the season.
The next four games saw Shelbourne draw at home to Bray Wanderers, win at home against Wexford, and win away to Cobh and Cabinteely. A win at home to Treaty United on 1 October 2021 would see Shelbourne secure promotion, and Georgie Poynton's 74th minute spot kick secured the 1–0 victory. At the final whistle fans burst onto the Tolka Park pitch to celebrate the return to the Premier Division with players and staff. The next two games saw a 1–1 draw at home to Athlone Town and a 0–2 defeat away to Cobh.
Manager Ian Morris announced his departure from the managers position on 25 October 2021, effective the end of the season. The final game of the season saw UCD visit Tolka Park on 29 October 2021. Despite early pressure from Shelbourne, UCD went ahead through Evan Caffrey early in the second half. Ex-UCD striker Yoyo Mahdy replaced Brian McManus late on and scored an equaliser in the 88th minute to preserve Shels unbeaten home record for the 2021 season. Following the final whistle fans were invited onto the pitch to see the team presented with the First Division Trophy.
Damien Duff was announced as manager for the 2022 season on 3 November 2021.
First team squad
Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 2021 season.
#NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (age)Previous clubSigned inNotesGoalkeepers1Brendan ClarkeGKSt Patricks Athletic202125Jack BradyGKLimerick F.C.201955Jack McCarthyGKUnknown (aged 17)Drogheda United F.C.2021Defenders2Michael BarkerDFBohemians20213Kevin O'ConnorDFCork City20214Ally GilchristDFDerry City202115Maxim KouogunDFWealdstone202116John Ross WilsonDFBray Wanderers202123Luke Byrne (c)DFShamrock Rovers201924David ToureDF/MFTrainee202128Stephen NegruDFUnknownTrainee202132Kameron LedwidgeDFSouthampton2021Midfielders5Yassine En-NeyahMFNottingham Forest20216Jonathan LunneyMFBohemians20217Eric MolloyMFWaterford F.C.20198Gerardo BrunaMFDerry City202110Ryan BrennanMFSt Patricks Athletic201912Denzil FernandesMFCobh Ramblers201914Brian McManusMFPreston North End202017Shane FarrellMFFinglas United201818Dayle RooneyMFSt Kevin's201519Gavin MolloyMFBohemians202020Kyle O'ConnorMFTrainee202126Georgie PoyntonMFWaterford F.C.201930Alex NolanMFShamrock Rovers2019Attackers9Michael O'ConnorFWRoss County202111Yousef MahdyFWUCD202121Alex CetinerFWTrainee202065Stanley AnaebonamFWUnattached2021Players who left the club mid-seasonAlex O'HanlonDFGlentoran2018 St Mochta'sGlen McAuleyFWBohemians2021Athlone TownSean QuinnMFUCD2018Released
Coaching staff
PositionStaff Head coach Ian Morris Assistant Coach Alan Reynolds 1st Team Coach David McAllister Goalkeeping Coach Paul Skinner
Transfers
Transfers in Date Position Nationality Name Previous club Fee Ref. 1 January 2021 GK Brendan Clarke St Patrick's Free 1 January 2021 DF Michael Barker Bohemians Free 1 January 2021 DF John Ross Wilson Bray Wanderers Free 1 January 2021 MF Jonathan Lunney Bohemians Free 1 January 2021 FW Glen McAuley Bohemians Free 1 January 2021 DF Ally Gilchrist Derry City Free 1 January 2021 FW Michael O'Connor Ross County Free 1 January 2021 DF Kevin O'Connor Cork City Free 8 January 2021 FW Yoyo Mahdy UCD Free 3 February 2021 MF Gerardo Bruna Derry City Free 18 February 2021 DF Maxim Kouogun Wealdstone Free 22 July 2021 MF Eric Molloy Waterford Unknown 30 July 2021 MF Yassine En-Neyah Nottingham Forest Unknown 30 July 2021 DF Kameron Ledgewidge Southampton Unknown 4 September 2021 FW Stanley Anaebonam Unattached Unknown
Transfers out
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 31 December 2020 GK Colin McCabe Drogheda United Unknown 31 December 2020 DF Daniel Byrne Warrenpoint Town Unknown 31 December 2020 DF Aidan Friel Athlone Town Unknown 31 December 2020 MF Oscar Brennan Waterford United Unknown 31 December 2020 MF Mark Byrne Bray Wanderers Unknown 31 December 2020 MF Gary Deegan Drogheda United Unknown 31 December 2020 MF Karl Moore Unattached Released 31 December 2020 FW Aaron Dobbs Longford Town Unknown 31 December 2020 FW Jaze Kabia Livingstone Unknown 31 December 2020 FW Ciarán Kilduff Unattached Released 31 December 2020 FW Karl Sheppard Retired Released 1 July 2021 DF Alex O'Hanlon St Mochta's Released 5 July 2021 MF Sean Quinn Unattached Released 23 July 2021 FW Glen McAuley Athlone Town Unknown
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref. 26 February 2021 DF Alex O'Hanlon Wexford 30 June 2021
Competitions Overview
League of Ireland
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches
FAI Cup
Matches
Statistics
Appearances and goals As of match played 29 October 2021. Substitute appearances in brackets. NoPosNatNameLeagueFAI CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKBrendan Clarke250102602DFMichael Barker9 (4)01010 (4)03DFKevin O'Connor24 (1)11025 (1)14DFAlly Gilchrist263102735MFYassine En-Neyah6 (4)1006 (4)16MF Jonathan Lunney20010210FWGlen McAuley4 (2)1004 (2)17MFEric Molloy0 (6)00 (1)00 (7)08MFGerardo Bruna0000009FWMichael O'Connor21 (4)71022 (4)710MFRyan Brennan23 (4)150 (1)023 (5)1511FWYousef Mahdy9 (7)4009 (7)412MFDenzil Fernandes0 (2)00 (1)00 (3)014MFBrian McManus12 (11)21013 (11)215DFMaxim Kouogun901010016DFJohn Ross Wilson20 (4)20 (1)020 (5)217MFShane Farrell23 (1)31024 (1)318MFDayle Rooney16 (10)31017 (10)3MFSean Quinn2 (2)0002 (2)019MFGavin Molloy1 (2)0001 (2)020MFKyle O'Connor00000021FWAlex Cetiner0 (3)0000 (3)023DFLuke Byrne1700017024DF/MFDavid Toure0 (1)0000 (1)025GKJack Brady10001026FWGeorgie Poynton19 (5)51020 (5)528DFStephen Negru00000030MFAlex Nolan0 (3)0000 (3)032DFKameron Ledgewidge7 (1)0007 (1)055GKJack McCarthy10001060GKColm Cox0 (1)0000 (1)065FWStanley Anaebonam2 (1)0002 (1)0 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season Source: Extratime.com
Goalscorers As of match played 29 October 2021. NoPosNatPlayerLOIFAICTotal10MFRyan Brennan150159FWMichael O'Connor70726MFGeorgie Poynton50511FWYousef Mahdy40417MFShane Farrell30318MFDayle Rooney3034DFAlly Gilchrist30316DFJohn Ross Wilson20214MFBrian McManus2023DFKevin O'Connor101FWGlen McAuley1015MFYassine En-Neyah101Opponents202Total49049 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season Source: Extratime.com
Discipline As of match played 29 October 2021. NoPosNatPlayerLOIFAICTotalPts9FWMichael O'Connor100101101110MFRyan Brennan3010404FWGlen McAuley010001317MFShane Farrell300030318MFDayle Rooney101020214MFBrian McManus10102022DFMichael Barker20103034DFAlly Gilchrist300030326MFGeorgie Poynton200020215DFMaxim Kouogun100010112MFDenil Fernandez100010112DFKevin O'Connor10001016MF Jonathan Lunney100010116MFJohn Ross Wilson100010123DFLuke Byrne1000101Total3115036139 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Extratime.com
Kit
New Home & Away kits were released for the 2021 season.
Type Shirt Shorts Socks Info Home Red Red Red Worn 23 times; against Athlone Town (LOI) H(x2) & A, Bray Wanderers (LOI) H(x2) & A, Cabinteely (LOI) H & A(x2), Cobh Ramblers (LOI) H, Cork City (LOI) H & A(x2), Galway United (LOI) H, Treaty United (LOI) H(x2), Wexford (LOI) H(x2) & A, UCD (FAIC) H(x2) (LOI) H & A Away Navy Navy Navy Worn 5 times; against Galway United (LOI) A, Cobh Ramblers (LOI) A(x2), Treaty United (LOI) A, Galway United (LOI) A
Key: H = Home A = Away LOI = League of Ireland Premier Division FAIC = FAI Cup
Awards
Player of the Year: Ryan Brennan Young Player of the Year: Shane Farrell
References
External links