Impressive Dundalk Denied in Shootout

Dundalk FC 0-0 Drogheda United
(Drogheda win 5-4 on penalties)

Premier League Champions Drogheda United were forced to play second fiddle to their bitter Louth rivals, First Division title favourites Dundalk in the Malone Cup final at Oriel Park on Thursday night, however, despite having to withstand a second-half siege, it was the Boynesiders who came out on top in a penalty shootout after the sides had finished deadlocked at the end of 90 minutes.

The Lilywhites lined-out with six of their nine winter arrivals, as a complete ex-Rovers selection in midfield - Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels and Davie O’Connor - joined Ian Ryan and Robbie Martin in the starting XI. Fellow signing Robbie Farrell entered on the hour-mark, however, reserve goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan and injured pair, Paul Crowley and Ben Whelehan, will have to wait on their first appearances of 2008.

Drogheda, meanwhile, handed debuts to new signings Adam Hughes and Joe Kendrick. Centre-half Gareth Whelan, captain of the Boynesiders’ under-21 team, started alongside Graham Gartland in the heart of the backline, while goalkeeper Jamie Ewings, formerly of Motherwell in Scotland, played the full 90 minutes between the sticks as Mikko Vilmunen took his place on the bench. Sean Prunty, another new arrival at United Park, was introduced as a second-half substitute.

An uninspiring opening to the game saw both sides go close as Chris Bennion thwarted a Drogheda attack, before Robbie Martin almost found a fortuitous opener at the other end. The game then lit up on 20 minutes, as a piece of Trevor Vaughan magic saw the 34-year-old turn two defenders at the by-line, however, his powerful strike was pushed out by Ewings.

A through-ball into the home penalty area minutes later almost provided the breakthrough moment for the visitors as Stuart Byrne’s effort was pounced on by Bennion, before Paul Keegan fired wide from long-range. On the half-hour, a David Crawley was diverted over by Gartland in the six-yard box, before Ryan saw his shot blocked away by a good Whelan tackle.

Into the second-half, and although Dundalk began brightly, it was the Drogs who came closest to a lead goal. Firstly, a Kendrick cross was headed inches wide by Richie Baker, before the winger was again guilty of a glaring miss as he fired wildly over after being put through by Prunty.

On 64 minutes, superb play by Dundalk should have resulted in what would have been a fully deserved goal. A flowing move down the left including O’Connor, Cassidy and Crawley ended with O’Connor crossing into the box, however, a Farrell flick-on was somehow put wide by Duffy at the back post from all of four-yards.

19-year-old Tiarnàn Mulvenna then went close as his shot from inside the box went narrowly wide, before, again, Dundalk passed up a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock. Clear on goal and with just the ‘keeper to beat, in two minds, Mulvenna shot straight into Ewing’s arms from over 25-yards out.

And that was a miss which was to prove costly, as, after Hughes went close to stealing it for Drogheda late on, Paul Doolin’s men went on to capture the cup in the shoot-out as John Flanagan was unable to reply to Brian Shelley’s fortuitous sudden death conversion.

Dundalk: Chris Bennion; John Flanagan, Aidan Lynch (Shane Grimes 59), Ian Ryan, David Crawley; Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels (Paul Marney 59), Davie O’Connor (Paul Smyth 67); Trevor Vaughan (Tiarnàn Mulvenna 65), Robbie Martin (Robbie Farrell 59).
Subs Not Used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Stefan McKevitt.

Booked: Mulvenna (85).

Drogheda United: Jamie Ewings; Brian Shelley, Graham Gartland, Gareth Whelan, Joe Kendrick; Richie Baker (Sami Ristila 62), Stuart Byrne (David McAllister 70), Paul Keegan, Adam Hughes, Ollie Cahill (Sean Prunty 51); Eamon Zayed (Tony Grant 46).
Subs Not Used: Mikko Vilmunen (GK), Michael Tsounias.

Booked: Whelan (89).