Dundalk FC 1 - 0 Shelbourne

A late goal from Tiarnan Mulvenna handed Dundalk a narrow 1-0 victory over Shelbourne at Oriel Park on Friday night. Substitute Mulvenna struck in the 87^th minute to give Dundalk a crucial three points on a chilly night in County Louth.

Dundalk made three changes from the side which went down 1-0 to Shamrock Rovers on Monday evening with Vinny Faherty, Eoghan Osborne and John Dillon all coming in for Pat Hoban, John Mountney and Darren Meenan. For Shelbourne, made two alterations from the team which lost out to Bray Wanderers the same evening with Graham Gartland and Philly Hughes coming in for Paul Crowley and Adam Hanlon.

It was a quiet opening to the game with Kurtis Byrne twice going close for Dundalk. His first chance, after 30 seconds, he failed to control a John Dillon pass and the second his scuffed shot was just wide of the left hand post.

Shelbourne settled quickly and in the opening quarter of an hour pressed the Dundalk goal however they were unable to create anything of note. Former Shelbourne player Andy Boyle had the best chance for Dundalk of the opening stages when on 20 minutes he rose highest to meet John Dillon’s corner but he headed narrowly over.

Moments later, Keith Ward had a chance for the Lilywhites. A good ball from Richie Towell picked the former Bohemians man out on the left wing and after a few tricky moves, he cut inside former Oriel Park favourite Ian Ryan but his shot flashed past Ger Hanley’s left hand post.

Towell shot over from a free-kick after he won it himself before Dillon hit a pile driver which left ‘keeper Hanley scrambling but it went just over the bar. That proved to be the last action of the opening period and the sides went in scoreless at the end of a lacklustre half.

Dundalk began the second half the sharper when Vinny Faherty snatched a shot from the edge of the box but it was deflected wide. The hosts then created their best chance of the match when a ball from John Sullivan caught out the Shels defence. Hanley looked to have the ball in his grasp but it squirmed away from him and fell to Stephen O’Donnell but his first time effort crashed off the post.

Faherty came close again just before the hour mark when he found himself free in the box but could only head straight at former Lilywhite Hanley after Dillon’s pinpoint cross.

Former Oriel Park hero Philly Hughes had two efforts in quick succession but both blocked. First his shot from the edge of the box was well blocked by Boyle before his free-kick struck the wall from 25 yards.

The visitors then came close with a long range effort from Alex Prizeman but it was gathered by Peter Cherrie in the home goal. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Shels were reduced to 10 men. Brian Shortall went over the top of the ball and caught substitute Pat Hoban leaving referee Alan Kelly with no option but to give him his marching orders.

Moments later, O’Donnell almost gave the hosts the lead with a spectacular effort. Dillon with another corner found the captain and his stinging drive clipped the top of the crossbar from the edge of the box. At the other end, Sean Brennan almost made Dundalk pay when his free-kick from 30 yards whistled past Cherrie’s right hand post.

The Lilywhites finally made their pressure count with 3 minutes left on the watch when a patient, well worked move found O’Donnell and his expert pass found the feet of substitute Tiarnan Mulvenna. He created space and coolly slotted the ball beneath Hanley to give Dundalk a deserved lead.

Towell almost doubled the advantage when he spotted Hanley off his line but his superb effort went just wide of the post.

That proved to be the final action as Dundalk closed the match out for a narrow victory and in doing so clinched back-to-back wins at home in the league for the first time since October 2010.

Dundalk:  Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Eoghan Osborne; Stephen O’Donnell, Richie Towell; John Dillon, Keith Ward (Darren Meenan 63); Vinny Faherty (Tiarnan Mulvenna 68), Kurtis Byrne (Pat Hoban 76).
Subs not used: John Mountney, Ciaran O’Connor, Stephen McDonnell, Aaron Shanahan (GK).

Booked: Boyle (85).

Shelbourne: Ger Hanley; Ian Ryan ©, Brian Shortall Graham Gartland, Jack Memery; Pat Flynn, Sean Brennan, Craig Mooney (Stephen Sheerin 73), Stephen Hurley (Alex Prizeman 54); Philly Hughes, Mark Leech.
Subs not used: Philip McCabe, Adam O’Connor, Darren Tinnelly, Jack Donnelly, Eoin Comerford.

Booked: None.

Sent off: Brian Shortall (78)

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 1,483

Extratime.ie man of the match: Stephen O’Donnell (Dundalk).