Tony Sheridan (footballer)

Tony Sheridan (born 21 October 1974 in Dublin) was a highly talented footballer who returned to Dublin in August 1995 and signed for Shelbourne FC from Coventry City with whom he had played in the FA Premiership with.

During Sheridan's first season with Shels he helped them win both the League Cup and the FAI Cup. In the semi-final against Sligo Rovers, he scored the only goal of the game, a majestic lob after running with the ball from box to box and he scored a late equaliser in the cup final at Lansdowne Road when Shels were down to ten men and with no regular goalkeeper. In the cup final replay at Dalymount Park he scored the equaliser and Shels went on to win 2-1 to deny St Patrick's Athletic the league and cup 'double'. Sheridan was acclaimed man of the match in both the drawn match and the replay by the media.

The following season, Sheridan again helped Shels to FAI Cup success as they defeated league champions Derry City 2-0 in the cup final. Once again, he won the man of the match award.

Disappointment followed in 1997/98 as Shels missed out on the league title on the last day of the season, and lost the FAI Cup Final to Cork City.

Damien Richardson left the managerial hotseat at Tolka Park as a result of the failure to win the championship and in came the uncompromising Dermot Keely. Despite an excellent season under Keely, Sheridan was allowed to sign for Portadown in the Irish League at the start of the 1999/2000 season. At the start of the 2000/2001 season he signed for Cardiff City but was released without playing a first team game.

Sheridan returned for a couple of brief spells with the Reds and also played for Dublin City before dropping down into amateur football. He briefly returned to League of Ireland football in 2005, when Roddy Collins signed him for Shamrock Rovers mid-season. Tony scored a dream goal on his debut at Bray Wanderers on Sunday July 31 [http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/archive/2005/0801/Pg027.html#Ar02706:03B7990577D005779908F7D008F7990A77D00A77990D57D00D57990EF7D00EF79910F7D006184F06885D06984F07685D07784F07C85D07C84F08785D08784F08E85D08E84F09585D0C28A00C88AE0C98A00D68AE0D78A00DC8AE0DC8A00E78AE0E78A00ED8AE0EE8A00F58AE09490C09B91A09B90C0A991A0A990C0AE91A0AF90C0BA91A0BA90C0C091A0C090C0C791A20990520F91020F90521891021890521B91021B90522291022290522791022790522C910] and went on to record 16 league appearances scoring another goal against Bohemians with his first touch on Friday September 2. In total he made 17 appearances for the Hoops but couldn't prevent Rovers from suffering relegation at the hands of Dublin City.

Tony Sheridan is currently contracted, in a player/assistant manager capacity, to W.F.T.A. of the Athletic Union League.

He won 5 U21 caps for Ireland.

Honours

*FAI Cup: 2
** Shelbourne - 1996, 1997

*League Cup: 1
** Shelbourne - 1995/96

*FAI National League Player of the Year: 1
** Shelbourne - 1995/96