Shelbourne rocked in opening league match
Seeking to boost forward-line ahead of Hibs clash
The opponents of Maltese champions Hibernians in the first qualifying round of the 2002/2003 Champions League, Dublin club Shelbourne, started their league commitments on a wrong footing on Friday when they were thrashed by modest side Cork 3-0 on the opening day of Ireland's Premier League.
Shelbourne had manager Pat Fenlon making his official debut on the bench on Friday but his experience turned sour when he saw his full-strength team, which included four new signings - David Crawley, Stuart Byrne, Trevor Molloy and Ollie Cahill - playing second fiddle to Cork, a team with no big aspirations and with six regular players sidelined through injury or suspension.
Molloy's first match for Shelbourne was even worse when he was red-carded for rough play after 49 minutes. Cork were already leading 2-0.
Meanwhile, before Friday's match, Shelbourne announced they were targeting two former international strikers for their two matches against Hibernians on July 17 and 24. These are Ireland's David Kelly, 36, and Mixu Paatelainen, 35, of Finland.
With Stephen Geoghegan suspended for the first leg after his sending off last year in the UEFA Cup against Brondby, Fenlon is trying to boost his forward line with the addition of an experienced striker.
A lucrative tie against Boavista of Portugal awaits the winners of the Hibs-Shelbourne clash.
Paatelainen is looking for a club after he was released by Strasbourg this summer. Fenlon is also keen on former Ireland man Kelly who is a free agent since he was released by Mansfield Town last season.
Fenlon, 33, has just made the switch from playing into coaching. He took over from Dermot Keely at the end of last season.
Shelbourne's next match is on Thursday night against Drogheda at their stadium, the Tolka Park. They leave Ireland the day after on their way to Malta - five days before the first leg.
Hibernians, on their part, have already started their pre-season training, again under the stewardship of Gatt who will be starting his third season at the Paolites' camp.
The Maltese champions' first official match of the new season will be tomorrow at 6 p.m. when they face Birkirkara in the opening match of the Lowenbrau Cup tournament at the Hibs Ground.
Other matches from the season-opening summer competition are scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.