Shelbourne eye double target

Tuesday 2nd July 2002

Dublin club Shelbourne are targeting two former international strikers, David Kelly and Mixu Paatelainen, ahead of their Champions' League qualifying tie against Maltese side Hibernians.

Shels take on Maltese side Hibernians with a dream tie against Boavista awaiting the winners in the next round.

The Reds are confident of making that date with the Portuguese team but new Shels boss Pat Fenlon is still hunting for a striker for the first leg on July 17.

Shelbourne's former Manchester United man Dessie Baker is still six weeks away from returning to action after knee surgery and fellow striker Stephen Geoghegan is suspended following his sending off against Brondby in the Uefa Cup last season, leaving Trevor Molloy as the only recognised striker in the Shels squad.

So Fenlon has targeted Ireland's former World Cup star Kelly as a possible signing while Finnish legend Paatelainen is also an option for the Tolka Park club.

The Finn is looking for a club after he was released by Strasbourg and an agent has contacted Fenlon about bringing the 35-year-old to Dublin.

But Fenlon is also keen on former Ireland man Kelly, who is a free agent since he was released by English Division Three side Mansfield Town last season.

Fenlon and Kelly were once team-mates as they played together in a B international for the Republic in Tolka Park under Jack Charlton in 1992, and Fenlon has already spoken to 36-year-old Kelly about a possible move to Dublin.

"David wants to play on for another season, he feels he could do a job for us and playing in Europe would be an attraction for him," Fenlon told the Evening Herald.

Kelly made his name with Walsall in the 1980s and attracted huge interest when he scored a hat-trick on his Ireland debut against Israel in 1987. He went on to play for Leicester City, Newcastle United, Wolves, Sunderland, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield United and Motherwell, before finishing his UK career with Mansfield Town.

He has scored 192 league goals in his career and also won 26 Ireland caps from 1987 to 1997, playing at the 1994 World Cup finals.

Shels are also tracking a Scottish striker, Mark Roberrts from Airdrie.

[onefootball.com]