AUDIO - HEARY PRAISES 'HEART' OF SHELBOURNE SIDE

Shelbourne manager Owen Heary was speaking to SSE Airtricity League reporter Peter Branigan after his side's 1-0 win over Cabinteely at Stradbrook on Friday night.

Shelbourne made it three wins on the spin on Friday evening with a late show against Cabinteely at Stradbrook. In a game of very few chances, James English scored the winner with less than four minutes on the clock.

Shels boss Owen Heary was satisfied to come away with the three points. "I don't think we played particularly well. It was difficult, especially with the pitch. I was pleased with how we battled."

Stradbrook is the home of Blackrock rugby, and despite the fact that Friday was a perfect day in Dublin, weather wise, the pitch showed some of the ill-effects of its dual purpose.

"It was a dogged game. There's been a lot of rugby played on the pitch, and we knew from the start that we couldn't get the ball down and play."

"Both teams were trying to get it in behind, and kick it long. I'm sure on a decent pitch, both teams would like to play the ball on the ground."

Heary says he's happy with the way his team are playing at the moment. "I think you see the players playing with a bit of confidence. Adam Evans, and Dale (Rooney) in particular."

"You see the defence putting their heart on the line, and defending properly, and I think that's a good sign."

"When we play in Tolka, we play a little bit more expansive, and free-flowing football. When we go away, we have to be a little bit more dogged, which we were tonight."

And with all the teams having played each other once this season, the Shels boss says the team are heading in the right direction. "Our start had, to me, the four most difficult games. Cobh and UCD last year, finished in the play-offs, while Waterford have invested a lot of money, as have Longford. Apart from the UCD game, we've done well in the other three."

"In the first phase of games, we've done alright, we're up near the top end of the table, where we hope to stay until the end of the season."

"Last five or six games, if we're in with a shout, who knows what can happen?"

This was published on the Official SSE Airtricity League website.