Dundalk 3 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
Credit:
Dundalk kept their title bid right on track as they secured a 3-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers on Friday evening at Oriel Park.
An early brace from Patrick Hoban and a goal from Kurtis Byrne sent the Lilywhites on their way to victory as Karl Sheppard grabbed what was a consolation for the visitors in what was a highly entertaining game!
Dundalk made the perfect start to the evening in the 2nd minute as Patrick Hoban capitalised on a defensive mistake from Conor Powell and he skipped past Richard Brush and finished to an empty net to give the hosts the lead.
Dundalk made two changes from the side which defeated Bray Wanderers last weekend as out went the injured Jordan Keegan and the injured Mark Rossiter and they were replaced by John Dillon and John Sullivan.
For Shamrock Rovers, there were three changes from the side which held Sligo Rovers to a scoreless draw last Saturday. Stephen Rice, the suspended Ronan Finn and the injured Mark Quigley missed out as in came James Chambers, Billy Dennehy and Eamon Zayed to the starting XI.
The goal settled the Lilywhites and captain Stephen O’Donnell had a shot blocked from the edge of the box before the home side almost doubled their lead when Hoban ran wide and pulled the ball back across the box however the in rushing O’Donnell failed to connect.
It wasn’t long until Dundalk did grab a deserved second goal and it came from that man Hoban again. A corner from the left from Darren Meenan was inch perfect and found the head of the young striker as he thundered a wonderful header to the net.
The crowd were barely able to breathe after a frantic opening quarter of an hour and moments later, it was so close to being three. Richie Towell drove forward from midfield and found his way into the box. He lashed the ball across the face of goal inches away from the goal.
The visitors eventually woke up and Ken Oman almost caught Peter Cherrie off guard with a shot but the goalkeeper grabbed the ball gratefully. A few forays forward came to nothing but it was evident that the Hoops were getting a foothold in the game.
James Chambers shot from distance but straight at Cherrie before the Tallaght men got a deserved goal just before half-time. Sean O’Connor found space on the right hand side and cut in past Chris Shields. He squared the ball to the edge of the box and found Karl Sheppard who curled a wonderful shot past Cherrie to the net.
The goal appeared to give Rovers a new impetus but it was Dundalk who nearly got a third. Kurtis Byrne shot from the edge of the box with a wonderful curling effort which tested Brush however he held at the second attempt.
That proved to be the last action of what was a highly entertaining half of football with Dundalk deservedly leading in front.
Byrne almost got the third for Dundalk immediately after the re-start as Meenan’s cross wasn’t dealt with by Brush but he could only direct the loose ball wide of the goal. The Hoops almost drew level moments later when O’Connor’s free-kick was headed goalwards by Jason McGuinness but Cherrie at full stretch brilliantly kept it out.
It was then that Dundalk struck the third and a goal that Byrne deserved. Meenan with yet another free-kick found the head of Shields and he flicked the ball towards the six yard box. Brush failed to deal with it properly and it fell to Byrne and the former Ross County star finished to the net from four yards out to restore the hosts advantage.
O’Donnell was on the end of a wonderful move involving Byrne, Dillon and Towell but his acrobatic effort was tame and was easy for Brush.
The game hit a lull midway through the second half as both sides tried to gain some rhythm. Eamon Zayed had a volley from the edge of the box go over the bar with just over ten minutes remaining as Rovers, chasing the game pushed forward in search of a second.
The Hoops somehow were denied by a wonderful stop by Cherrie on 83 minutes. The loose ball in the Dundalk box wasn’t dealt with and Sheppard, looking for a second goal, shot towards goal however the ball was deflected by Andy Boyle. The ball looked destined for the net but somehow, Cherrie produced an outstanding save as the ball went wide for a corner.
The night went from bad to worse for Shamrock Rovers as Stephen Rice, only on as a substitute, received a straight red card as he kicked out at Shields as the ball went out of play on the end line.
The anticipated onslaught never materialised and despite five nervous additional minutes, Dundalk held on to record their first win over the Hoops in 14 attempts!
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Darren Meenan, John Dillon (Francis McCaffrey 75); Kurtis Byrne (Tiarnan Mulvenna 83), Pat Hoban (Vinny Faherty 85).
Subs not used: Simon Kelly, Nathan Murphy, Jordan Keegan, Vinny Faherty, Aaron Shanahan (GK).
Booked: Meenan (54), Mulvenna (84), McCaffrey (89).
Shamrock Rovers: Richard Brush; Conor McCormack, Ken Oman, Jason McGuinness, Conor Powell; Sean O’Connor, Shane Robinson, James Chambers (Stephen Rice 79), Billy Dennehy (Thomas Stewart 72); Eamon Zayed, Karl Sheppard (Gary McCabe 64).
Subs not used: Danny Ledwith, Derek Foran, Pat Sullivan, Barry Murphy(GK).
Booked: Oman (26), McGuinness (30), McCormanck (55), Chambers (58).
Sent off: Rice (84), McGuinness (90+5).
Referee: Alan Kelly.
Attendance: 2,179
Extratime.ie man of the match: Richie Towell (Dundalk) - It was a masterclass from the young midfielder.
