League Report: Dundalk 2 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

IN a game that had everything, Shamrock Rovers managed to snatch a draw at the death against an impressive Dundalk side at Oriel Park. Dundalk fans will certainly feel their side should have been more clinical having had the better of the chances.

The game started off in frantic fashion with both sides doing their best to assert their authority on the game. Dundalk managed to create the first chance of note through Stephen O’Donnell – Gannon fed a pass inside to Richie Towell who showed great vision to slip a through ball into the path of O’Donnell who shot just over from just inside the box.

Just a couple of minutes later on 13 minutes, Rovers took the lead against the run of play. Gary McCabe progressed into the Dundalk half with the ball, played a need ball to Gary McCabe who put Ciaran Kilduff one on one with Peter Cherrie. Kilduff made no mistake, coolly slotting the ball past the Dundalk ‘keeper.

Dundalk were back on the attack on 16 minutes. Richie Towell’s marauding run from midfield caught Rovers napping but his pull back wasn’t connected with by O’Donnell.

The home side were guilty on a number of occasions of perhaps overplaying the ball in their own third, gifting possession to Rovers on more than one occasion.

On the half hour mark, Andy Boyle almost regained parity, sneaking in at the back post and stabbing an effort goal-bound, but for Murphy to pull off a very good save to keep his side ahead.

Dundalk upped the tempo in the lead up to half time, really pressing Rovers in their own half and creating a number of half chances. Rovers, to be fair, did press Dundalk when given the chance and caused a few nervy moment in the home defence.

Stephen O’Donnell’s involvement in the game came to an end on 45 minutes following a very hard tackle from Shane Robinson which left him in considerable pain and needing to be stretchered off and be replaced by Darren Meenan.

The sides went into the half time break with Rovers leading by that Kilduff goal and both sides having had their fair share of possession.

The second half exploded into life after barely ten minutes when firstly, Dundalk were awarded a penalty for a handball inside the box by Conor Kenna. Richie Towell made no mistake from the spot, dispatching his kick low to Murphy’s right hand corner. Controversy was to follow as referee Paul McLoughlin issued a straight red card to Rovers’ captain Conor Kenna for what looked like a charge with his elbow on Daryl Horgan during Dundalk’s celebrations following Towell’s goal.

With a numerical advantage, it wasn’t long before Dundalk hit the front. Rovers’ defence was stretched and Mountney fed Meenan in a central area in front of goal and with just Murphy to beat, he kept a cool head to knock the ball past Barry Murphy and send the home fans into raptures. In fact, Dundalk could easily have doubled their lead shortly after in similar circumstances; Daryl Horgan on the end of it this time but his shot was saved by Murphy.

From then on, Rovers seemed to change their game plan, introducing Robert Bayly in place of McPhail and abandoning their high tempo, attractive passing game and reverting to a more ‘traditional’ approach.

Dundalk could have doubled their advantage just before the final whistle. Rovers had committed bodies forward for a corner and the ball broke to Meenan who found himself and David McMillan in a two on one situation but Meenan chose to shoot himself when passing would have left McMillan with an open goal.

That chance would come back to haunt Dundalk in injury time when Shamrock Rovers drew level very much against the run of play, with Ronan Finn thumping a beautiful strike past Peter Cherrie from 12 yards out.

That was how the game ended, Dundalk can only blame themselves for not taking full points from this encounter but both sets of fans will be encouraged by the performances of their teams.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Daryl Horgan (Chris Shields 81), Stephen O’Donnell (Darren Meenan 45), Ruaidhri Higgins, Richie Towell, John Mountney; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan 85).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), Kurtis Byrne, Marc Griffin, Mark Rossiter.

Booked: Boyle (90+3).

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, Jason McGuinness, Sean Heaney; Gary McCabe (Kieran Waters 66), Shane Robinson, Stephen McPhail (Robert Bayly 68), Ronan Finn; Ciaran Kilduff, Eamon Zayed (Rob Cornwall 59).
Subs not used: Craig Hyland (gk), David O’Connor, Ryan Brennan, Karl Sheppard.

Booked: Robinson (45+3), Zayed (51), Bayly (74), Finn (90+2).
Sent off: Kenna (56).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 3,364

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Gannon (Dundalk).