President’s Cup: Shelbourne 2 (Odubeko 28, Boyd 34) Drogheda United 0
It’s official. Mipo Odubeko has returned home to Irish football.
A preamble to the League of Ireland kick-off next Friday, the first President’s Cup at Tolka Park produced enough drama to justify Damien Duff’s claim that it was “absolutely not a friendly.”
Odubeko, Shelbourne’s new signing, reinforced this attitude, even if his first action could have proved disastrous.
Seconds into the contest, Drogheda United defender Andrew Quinn went down clutching his face following a body check by the former Republic of Ireland under-21 striker that the match officials missed.
Odubeko was understandably eager to impress. The 22-year-old’s career has covered a lot of ground since leaving Dublin at 14 to represent both Manchester clubs, City then United, before West Ham signed him to a three year deal aged 17.
Unable to break into the Premier League, unproductive spells at Huddersfield, Doncaster, Port Vale, Portugal and Fleetwood Town brought him to Drumcondra and a chance to revive an ailing career in Duff’s care.
Paul Norton eventually showed him a yellow card for running through Shane Farrell but the referee was nonplussed when, moments later, Quinn bowled over Odubeko in the box. It looked like a certain penalty.
Shels took the lead from the next attack after Harry Wood flicked Ali Coote’s corner for Odubeko to finish on debut.
Unusually, both teams started with two up front. The Shels pair, Odubeko and Sean Boyd, opened their accounts before half-time while Drogheda looked like a team that picked up 10 players over the winter as the FAI Cup winners prepare for European football in July.
“To be honest, it’s only the second game we’ve played on grass in preseason,” said Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty. “It is very difficult to find pitches.”
Boyd profited from a Coote corner to make it 2-0 as a healthy crowd of 4,584 embraced the cold.
Norton, again, opted for a yellow rather than red card when Drogs attacker Zishim Bawa caught Sam Bone. It caused a stir. None of this felt like preseason.
The red was coming. Luke Dennison wasted no time heading for an early shower when, seven minutes into the second half, the goalkeeper blatantly handled the ball outside the box after Odubeko blocked his attempted clearance.
There are no suspensions from the President’s Cup but the dismissal forced Doherty to swap Drogs' new Welsh forward Josh Thomas with former Shels goalie Jack Brady, who instantly had his hands stung by a Paddy Barrett shot.
“Keep the ball!” roared Duff. “Test him!”
Shelbourne will test all comers with this upgraded squad. The manager bearhugged Odubeko on replacing him with Ellis Champman, who was lured from Sligo Rovers after an outstanding year at the Showgrounds.
Shels' title defence begins for real when Derry City visit Tolka next Friday.
SHELBOURNE: Kearns; Gannon, Barrett, Bone, Ledwidge; Coote (Tulloch 63 mins), Coyle (Lunney 63), McInroy (Caffrey 72), Wood (O’Kane 72); Boyd, Odubeko (Chapman 63).
DROGHEDA UNITED: Dennison; Lambe, Quinn (Cooper 46 mins), Keely, Harper-Bailey, Kane; Farrell (Heeney 64), Brennan (Doyle 70), Markey, Bawa, Thomas (Brady 54).
Referee: Paul Norton.
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