For Leeds, John McClelland replaced Ray Wallace at Right Back at Half Time and Glynn Snodin came on for Mike Whitlow at Left Back after seventy-two minutes. For Shelbourne, Paul Newe replaced James Callaghan at outside-left at half-time and Bobby Browne came on for Brian Flood in the sixty-second minute. Referee: B. Shortte (Kildare).
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Match Report: From the Irish Times (Thanks to Steve Bell for Report and Shelbourne team etc)
Leeds will travel south to take on Cork City tomorrow night pondeing over their opening pre-season friendly with Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night. An estimated crowd of 6,000 with many Leeds fans amongst them, were not impressed. And the fact that Cork City whacked Glasgow Celtic last Tuesday gives added gloss to the game at Musgrove Park tomorrow evening. Leeds, who have spent ovr £6 million during the close season on new talent to make an even bigger impression than they did last season in the first division, had to be content with a draw. Leeds took the lead after twenty-eight minutes when Gary McAllister laid on a chance for Rod Wallace who had the simplest of tasks of lobbing the ball into an empty net after the Shelbourne defence had been spreadeagled. But Leeds were reminded that they till had a game on their hands after Dessie Gorman was deprived by a save by goalkeeper Mervyn Day and Gorman further tested Day, who had to go full length. However, Shelbourne thoroughly deserved their equalizer in the eightieth minute when Gary Howlett passed to Dully for the big striker to score the equalizer and a well deserved one.
Match Report by Mark Lane: Courtesy Mark Ledgard
Leeds Shel Shocked
Padraig is quick on the draw
A late Padraig Dully equaliser denied Leeds United a fourth Tolka Park victory inside eighteen months, and elevated Shelbourne to giant-stopper status alongside Dundalk and Cork City. Thee were just ten minutes remaining when Dessie Gorman released the galloping Dully, who showed consummate coolness in carrying the ball round the flailing Mervyn Day before sidefooting carefully to the net.Though it was Dully who eventually stung the pride of Yorkshire , his partner Gorman hads been the consistent thorn in the side of the Leeds defence. Time and again his sprinter's start saw him burst through the formidable cover of Whyte and Fairclough, but too often Gorman's feet outpaced his brain and he was flagged offside.
LUNGING TACKLE
After just four minutes, the Dundalk-born player scampered through and it took a lunging tackle from Day, yards outside his box, to deny him. Later in the half, a Whitlow blunder saw Gorman tear towards goal, and this time Day's save rebounded to an off-balance Dully who blasted wide. The Leeds goal came on twenty-eight minutes, and £1.5 million signing Rodney Wallace was the scorer. Gary McAllister served him a glorious pass from deep in his own half, and the Wallace lad killed the ball beautifully before twisting towards goal, rounding Jodi Byrne and hitting a twenty-yard chip that dipped into the net. Wallace's resourseful display must have delighted Howard Wilkinson, although Shelbourne's Mick Neville did a handsome job of marshalling him. The quick, mobile striker was prepared to forage deep for the ball, and moved easily to the flanks whenever he became aware of inviting space.If Rodney was the answers to the cries of "Where's the beef?" from Leeds fans casting a cold eye over new signings, his brother Ray gave an unfortunate impression of a pudding in the right-back position. Inexplicably worried by the threat from Shels debutante James Callaghan , it was the consistent waywardness of Raymond's passing that quickly incurred the audible wrath of Gordon Strachan. Twins they may be, but Rod and Ray are anything but identical in terms of quality-or price tag. Ray's £100,000 valuation meand that his brother is rated fifteen times as highly. Raymond's debut ended in early shame, replaced at half-time by the lumbering John McClelland who did a reliable if unspectacular job in the second half. Strachan once again, was Leeds best player, displaying his unique combination of tireless industry and sparkling skill. So often did he steal in and take possession, the Shelbourne players could have been foregiven for thinking that warnings about a pickpocket in the ground referred to the crafty Scot. For Shels, Gary Howlett's performance augurs well for the coming season, although the
Red's midfield still seems incomplete without Pat Byrne beavering at the hub. This game had more attractive bite than either of the two Dublin friendlies in recent days, and Shelbourne's harrying style should have shaken all the summer cobwebs from the professionals' limbs. Although the healthy attendance of almost 6,000 underlined the enduring appeal of Leeds for the Irish football public, many were disappointed by the absence of their other expensive captures. Minor injuries postponed the debuts of England internationals Tony Dorigo and Steve Hodge, who watched the game from the directors' box until a swarm of autograph hunters forced them to beat a tactical retreat.
'SERVED PURPOSE'
Leeds manaher Howard Wilkinson said afterwards the match had "served its purpose". "As usual Shelbourne gave us a good, hard workout which is exactly what we needed. It was very, very satisfactory. If you are looking for reasons why we didn't turn our superiority in terms of possession into goals, it was because our crossing on the night was very, very poor and that meant that our finishing wasn't good. But the pitch was in excellent condition, the fans were excellent, the organisation was excellent and we're satisfied with how things went."
Match Action by Brendan McKenna: Courtesy Mark Ledgard
SHELS' LATE SURPRISE
It was never more than a stroll for Leeds United at Tolka Park last night, but the confidence and the poise of their multi-million pound side was shattered by a late but brilliant goal from Padraig Dully for a Shelbourne side that fought to the bitter end. Dully's goal was a beauty, a gem of individual taste and finished with as much aplomb as any that might be scored in the coming season by the more valuable opponents he faced last night. Put through with a glorious ball in the eightieth minute from Dessie Gorman, a recent signiong from Derry City, Dully rounded former West Ham goalkeeper Mervyn Day, and shot home. Day was deputising for John Lukic, who did not travel. It was a goal fully earned by Shelbourne who never lost heart, even if their goal, and particularly goalkeeper Jody Byrne, took a pounding from the star-studded Leeds attack. Sporting their close-season signings, the Wallace twins, Rod and Ray, who came from Southamptonin a £1.6 million deal, Leeds provided a fine spectacle for the crowd of 6,000. The attendance was boosted by the watching Mick Martin and his Glasgow Celtic side on their way from Cork to Dudalk for their game at Oriel Park tomorrow night. Those other Elland Road Stars were there too, Gordon Strachan, Gary Speed, England International starlet David Batty, Lee Chapman, Gary McAllister and Glynn Snodin, and the entire package provided a combination which threatened to overpower Shelbourne. Surprisingly McAllister was the real star, and it was he that brilliantly set up the Leeds goal in the first half. In the twenty-eighth minute he found Ropd Wallace in acres of space and the former Southampton man ran on to chip from Jody Byrne as the goalkeeper came off his line. Shels might well have been in the lead themselves before Leeds scored as Gorman and Dullytogether missed a fine oppurtunityin the twenty-third minute. Gorman got clean through as Chris Whyte slipped, but goalkeeper Day blocked his shot. From the rebound Dully, running in, shot wide of an empty net. But there was ample compensationin Dully's late, late equaliser.
Match Action: Courtesy Mark Ledgard
