Fairview Rangers suffer FAI Cup defeat to League of Ireland champions Shelbourne in glamour tie

REIGNING FAI Junior Cup holders Fairview Rangers succumbed 4-0 to League of Ireland Premier Division champions Shelbourne in their glamour Sports Direct FAI Cup Second Round tie at the Fairgreen on Saturday evening.

A brace of goals from John Martin propelled Shels' to a third-round draw despite a gritty and determined showing from Limerick District League Premier Division champions Fairview.

The odds were always stacked against the Limerick junior side, with Shels fresh from a Champions League first-round qualifying victory over Linfield in Belfast in midweek.

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Shels' manager Joey O’Brien went with a strong starting XI for his trip to Shannonside, with the likes of Sean Boyd, Daniel Kelly, and Sam Bone all making the starting line-up, despite the Dubliners making wholesale changes from their Windsor Park bout in midweek.

Shels can set their sights on a second-round Champions League clash against Azerbaijani champions Qarabag in four days’ time with their passage to the next round of the FAI Cup assured.

Meanwhile, Fairview are still weeks out from the beginning of their Limerick District League campaign, with their pre-season still a fortnight or so away, playing in their first competitive game of the new season, having secured a famous treble, winning the Premier League and Lawson Cup as well as FAI Junior Cup honours.

The Reds showed their intent from the off, with John Martin hitting the post within 30 seconds; however, he gave the visitors the lead four minutes later. A Daniel Kelly cross wasn’t dealt with by the Rangers defence as Martin played a one-two with Jake Norris before rattling the roof of the net.

Boyd came close to doubling the Shels lead in the twelfth minute as he got on the end of a lofted cross from Norris, but the big centre forward's header was well blocked by Jack Cross.

Three minutes later it was Martin again who went close with his snapshot saved well by Josh McCarthy.

Fairview began to grow into the game, with winger Oleg Vysochan at the heart of much of their attack. However, Shelbourne doubled their lead in the 23rd minute as a long ball from James Roche nullified the Fairview defence, landing squarely to Kelly, who rounded the onrushing McCarthy and dispatched the ball with ease into the empty net.

Kelly forced another good save from McCarthy before the Rangers netminder was forced to make a spectacular save from a close-range Boyd header five minutes later.

Jeffrey Judge had the home side's first attempt on goal on the stroke of half-time, but his effort was easily saved by Lorcan Healy. Moments later, Judge got on the end of a sweeping move by the 'View, but his effort curled inches wide of halving the deficit.

Six minutes after the restart, Daniel O’Neill went close for the homeside with his effort dipping over the crossbar. Conor Kavanagh was next to have a go for the home side in the 58th minute, with his effort curling wide.

In the 65th minute Norris and Cillian Ryan combined well for the former to curl an effort narrowly wide.

With a little over a quarter of an hour to play, John Martin got his second goal and Shelbourne's third to seal their passage to the next round. Substitute Abdul Adewale delivered an inch-perfect ball for Boyd, who cushioned his header into the path of Martin, who buried his shot in the back of the net.

Four minutes from the time, Martin rounded off his hat trick, stroking home his effort from close range.

Fairview Rangers: Josh McCarthy, Jake Dillon, Brian Ahern (Daniel O’Neill 22), Jason Cross, Tomás O’Connor, Jeffrey Judge, Conor Kavanagh (Shane Carmody 68), Oleg Vysochan (Reuben McCarthy 68), Gbadebo Habideen, Cian McNamara, Adam Dore (Josh McCarthy 68).

Shelbourne: Lorcan Healy, Ellis Chapman (James Bailey 80), Sean Boyd (Daniel Ring 80), John Martin, Sam Bone, John O’Sullivan, Daniel Kelly (Cillian Ryan 55), James Norris (Raymond Offor 80), Lewis Temple, Aaron Moloney (Abdul Adewale 55), James Roche.

Referee: Marc Lynch