# 2021 Shelbourne F.C. season

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 Clark 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 reminder 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.
| # | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Previous Club | Signed in | Notes |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Brendan Clarke | GK | (1985-09-17)17 September 1985 (aged 35) | St Patricks Athletic | 2021 | |
| 25 | Jack Brady | GK | (1996-12-17)17 December 1996 (aged 24) | Limerick F.C. | 2019 | |
| 55 | Jack McCarthy | GK | Unknown (aged 17) | Drogheda United F.C. | 2021 | |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | Michael Barker | DF | (1993-08-16)16 August 1993 (aged 27) | Bohemians | 2021 | |
| 3 | Kevin O'Connor | DF | (1995-05-07)7 May 1995 (aged 25) | Cork City | 2021 | |
| 4 | Ally Gilchrist | DF | (1995-03-05)5 March 1995 (aged 26) | Derry City | 2021 | |
| 15 | Maxim Kouogun | DF | (1997-03-14)14 March 1997 (aged 24) | Wealdstone | 2021 | |
| 16 | John Ross Wilson | DF | (1998-12-13)13 December 1998 (aged 22) | Bray Wanderers | 2021 | |
| 23 | Luke Byrne (c) | DF | (1993-07-08)8 July 1993 (aged 27) | Shamrock Rovers | 2019 | |
| 24 | David Toure | DF/MF | (2004-10-01)1 October 2004 (aged 16) | Trainee | 2021 | |
| 28 | Stephen Negru | DF | Unknown | Trainee | 2021 | |
| 32 | Kameron Ledgewidge | DF | (2001-04-07)7 April 2001 (aged 19) | Southampton | 2021 | |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 5 | Yassine En-Neyah | MF | (2000-06-10)10 June 2000 (aged 20) | Nottingham Forest | 2021 | |
| 6 | Jonathan Lunney | MF | (1998-02-02)2 February 1998 (aged 23) | Bohemians | 2021 | |
| 7 | Eric Molloy | MF | (1992-12-12)12 December 1992 (aged 28) | Waterford F.C. | 2019 | |
| 8 | Gerardo Bruna | MF | (1991-01-29)29 January 1991 (aged 30) | Derry City | 2021 | |
| 10 | Ryan Brennan | MF | (1991-11-11)11 November 1991 (aged 29) | St Patricks Athletic | 2019 | |
| 12 | Denzil Fernandes | MF | (1998-02-21)21 February 1998 (aged 23) | Cobh Ramblers | 2019 | |
| 14 | Brian McManus | MF | (2001-11-29)29 November 2001 (aged 19) | Preston North End | 2020 | |
| 17 | Shane Farrell | MF | (2000-06-26)26 June 2000 (aged 20) | Finglas United | 2018 | |
| 18 | Dayle Rooney | MF | (1998-02-24)24 February 1998 (aged 23) | St Kevin's | 2015 | |
| 19 | Gavin Molloy | MF | (2001-10-19)19 October 2001 (aged 19) | Bohemians | 2020 | |
| 20 | Kyle O'Connor | MF | (2003-03-14)14 March 2003 (aged 18) | Trainee | 2021 | |
| 26 | Georgie Poynton | MF | (1997-09-08)8 September 1997 (aged 23) | Waterford F.C. | 2019 | |
| 30 | Alex Nolan | MF | (2003-03-20)20 March 2003 (aged 18) | Shamrock Rovers | 2019 | |
| Attackers ||||||||
| 9 | Michael O'Connor | FW | (1998-07-31)31 July 1998 (aged 22) | Ross County | 2021 | |
| 11 | Yousef Mahdy | FW | (1998-01-20)20 January 1998 (aged 23) | UCD | 2021 | |
| 21 | Alex Cetiner | FW | (2001-07-20)20 July 2001 (aged 19) | Trainee | 2020 | |
| 65 | Stanley Anaebonam | FW | (1999-04-14)14 April 1999 (aged 21) | Unattached | 2021 | |
| Players who left the club mid-season ||||||||
| | Alex O'Hanlon | DF | (1996-04-24)24 April 1996 (aged 24) | Glentoran | 2018 | St Mochta's |
| 7 | Glen McAuley | FW | (2000-02-24)24 February 2000 (aged 21) | Bohemians | 2021 | Athlone Town |
| 19 | Sean Quinn | MF | (1999-02-05)5 February 1999 (aged 22) | UCD | 2018 | Released |

## Coaching staff

| Position | Staff |
| Head Coach | Ian Morris |
| Assistant Coach | Alan Reynolds |
| 1st Team Coach | David McAllister |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Paul Skinner |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | Previous Club | Fee |
| 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 | Name | To | Fee |
| 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

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| First Division | 26 March 2021 | 29 October 2021 | Matchday 1 | 27 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 49 | 23 | +26 | 059.26 |
| FAI Cup | 23 July 2021 | 23 July 2021 | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 000.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 49 | 25 | +24 | 057.14 |
Last updated: 29 October 2021 Source: Soccerway

### League of Ireland

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Shelbourne (C, P) | 27 | 16 | 9 | 2 | 49 | 23 | +26 | 57 | Promotion to League of Ireland Premier Division |
| 2 | Galway United | 27 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 39 | 25 | +14 | 51 | Qualification to Promotion play-offs |
| 3 | UCD | 27 | 13 | 7 | 7 | 55 | 38 | +17 | 46 | Qualification to Promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Treaty United | 27 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 27 | +9 | 42 | Qualification to Promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Bray Wanderers | 27 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 36 | 31 | +5 | 37 | Qualification to Promotion play-offs |
| 6 | Cork City | 27 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 37 | 28 | +9 | 33 | |
| 7 | Athlone Town | 27 | 9 | 6 | 12 | 32 | 43 | −11 | 33 | |
| 8 | Cobh Ramblers | 27 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 25 | 46 | −21 | 28 | |
| 9 | Cabinteely | 27 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 26 | 47 | −21 | 25 | |
| 10 | Wexford | 27 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 29 | 56 | −27 | 21 | |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 29 October 2021. Source:

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H |
| Result | D | D | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | L | D | W | W | W | W | D | L | D |
| Position | 5 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |

#### Matches
### FAI Cup
#### Matches
## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

    As of match played 29 October 2021. Substitute appearances in brackets.
| No | Pos | Nat | Name | League | League | FAI Cup | FAI Cup | Total | Total |
| No | Pos | Nat | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | | Brendan Clarke | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | | Michael Barker | 9 (4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 (4) | 0 |
| 3 | DF | | Kevin O'Connor | 24 (1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25 (1) | 1 |
| 4 | DF | | Ally Gilchrist | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| 5 | MF | | Yassine En-Neyah | 6 (4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 (4) | 1 |
| 6 | MF | | Jonathan Lunney | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | | Glen McAuley | 4 (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 (2) | 1 |
| 7 | MF | | Eric Molloy | 0 (6) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (7) | 0 |
| 8 | MF | | Gerardo Bruna | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | Michael O'Connor | 21 (4) | 7 | 1 | 0 | 22 (4) | 7 |
| 10 | MF | | Ryan Brennan | 23 (4) | 15 | 0 (1) | 0 | 23 (5) | 15 |
| 11 | FW | | Yousef Mahdy | 9 (7) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 (7) | 4 |
| 12 | MF | | Denzil Fernandes | 0 (2) | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 |
| 14 | MF | | Brian McManus | 12 (11) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 (11) | 2 |
| 15 | DF | | Maxim Kouogun | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | | John Ross Wilson | 20 (4) | 2 | 0 (1) | 0 | 20 (5) | 2 |
| 17 | MF | | Shane Farrell | 23 (1) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 24 (1) | 3 |
| 18 | MF | | Dayle Rooney | 16 (10) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 17 (10) | 3 |
| 19 | MF | | Sean Quinn | 2 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (2) | 0 |
| 19 | MF | | Gavin Molloy | 1 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (2) | 0 |
| 20 | MF | | Kyle O'Connor | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | | Alex Cetiner | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 |
| 23 | DF | | Luke Byrne | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 24 | DF/MF | | David Toure | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| 25 | GK | | Jack Brady | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | | Georgie Poynton | 19 (5) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20 (5) | 5 |
| 28 | DF | | Stephen Negru | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | | Alex Nolan | 0 (3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (3) | 0 |
| 32 | DF | | Kameron Ledgewidge | 7 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 (1) | 0 |
| 55 | GK | | Jack McCarthy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 60 | GK | | Colm Cox | 0 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (1) | 0 |
| 65 | FW | | Stanley Anaebonam | 2 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 (1) | 0 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season
* Source: Extratime.com

### Goalscorers

    As of match played 29 October 2021.
| No | Pos | Nat | Player | LOI | FAIC | Total |
| 10 | MF | | Ryan Brennan | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 9 | FW | | Michael O'Connor | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 26 | MF | | Georgie Poynton | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 11 | FW | | Yousef Mahdy | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 17 | MF | | Shane Farrell | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 18 | MF | | Dayle Rooney | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | DF | | Ally Gilchrist | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 16 | DF | | John Ross Wilson | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | | Brian McManus | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | DF | | Kevin O'Connor | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | FW | | Glen McAuley | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | | Yassine En-Neyah | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | Opponents | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 49 | 0 | 49 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season
* Source: Extratime.com

### Discipline

    As of match played 29 October 2021.
| No | Pos | Nat | Player | LOI | LOI | FAIC | FAIC | Total | Total | Pts |
| 9 | FW | | Michael O'Connor | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 10 | MF | | Ryan Brennan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | FW | | Glen McAuley | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 17 | MF | | Shane Farrell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 18 | MF | | Dayle Rooney | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | | Brian McManus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | DF | | Michael Barker | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | DF | | Ally Gilchrist | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | MF | | Georgie Poynton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | DF | | Maxim Kouogun | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | | Denil Fernandez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | DF | | Kevin O'Connor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | | Jonathan Lunney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | | John Ross Wilson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | DF | | Luke Byrne | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 31 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 39 |
* Players listed in italics left the club mid-season.
* Source: Extratime.com

## Kit

Supplier: Umbro Sponsor(s): Hamptons Floor Store (Front of Jersey) Blåkläder Workwear (Back of Jersey – Top) Daniel Whelan Tiling & Bathrooms (Back of Jersey – Bottom) St Patricks' Mental Health Services (Sleeves of Jersey)
| Home | Away |
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