Oriel "Rockin all over the world"

Over the space of the last four days, all in League of Ireland circles had been clinging onto Sligo’s 3-0 victory in Oriel Park last Saturday evening – it proved that Dundalk were not infallible after all.

That result roused Cork and made them intent on kicking the Lilywhites while they were down. They were going to come to ‘the town’ and hit Dundalk where it hurt most. It was almost poetic, written in the stars.

John Caulfield had called his team to arms, ready for war. “We have to be ready from the off.” All of the clichés were exhausted, the Rebels felt that it was their time.

Who could blame them? After all they were coming into the match looking to go 11 unbeaten and with Seanie Maguire on top-form, you would have been tempted to favour City.

Add to all that their 100% record against Dundalk this season and you had a very strong case for a visiting win.

Oriel was simmering before kick-off; the crowd were in early, the atmosphere was raucous and the shed’s flares re-ignited the intensity and passion of a typical Dundalk and Cork City match.

The opening five minutes were exactly as Caulfield would have wanted them. City on top, in possession, looking dangerous and the home crowd oozing anxiety.

They say that there is safety in numbers, but Stephen Kenny looked incredibly lonesome over that short period despite being among more than 4,000 of his own people. No one would dare go near him, he was deep in his solemn trail of thought, ‘what do I do here?’

He had done all that he could. He made the big calls before kick-off in dropping Gary Rogers to the bench. Kenny is sometimes criticised for being too loyal to his tried and trusted assets. However, the decision to drop a mainstay of the side illustrated his ruthless nature.

The first long ball into Dundalk’s area saw the crowd inhale sharply. Sava came and, as was to become the night’s narrative, Sava collected. Those in the stand could breathe again.

They were soon panting though, the place lifted, Dundalk went nuts. Daryl Horgan struck perhaps the most memorable free-kick that Oriel Park has ever seen, or at least witnessed in a long while.

It skipped over the wall and eventually landed in the net after pin-balling between the crossbar and the unfortunate head of Mark McNulty. It was 1-0, it was Horgan, it was incredible and all done in front of the watching Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill.

Oriel Park went barmy, as did the City bench. The Rebels management remonstrated with the fourth official, in vain, as Horgan wheeled away to greet the shed side army.

Was it a free-kick? Was it a dive? Should Alan Bennett have seen a penalty awarded against him minutes later? Should Greg Bolger have seen red in the second-half?

All questions that will undoubtedly be posed following the game. Tomas Connolly brandished eight yellow-cards on the night, a record at Oriel Park this season.

It was ferocious. Centre-field was like no man’s land. If you ventured in there, you had either Bolger or Stephen O’Donnell and later Chris Shields launching themselves at you like bullets from a metal storm gun, while the battles down either flank were contested as keenly.

Horgan vs Beattie, Mountney vs O’Connor and Massey vs Sheppard were all enthrallin. However, it was the dual between Alan Keane and Stephen Dooley which got people on the edges of their seats. Every time the ball petered to their side, the crowd hummed ‘en garde.’

Keane, who only came out of retirement in August, was making his league debut for Dundalk. On last night’s performance, he may well be postponing any further retirement plans until this time next year.

Their contest was memorable, but Daryl Horgan’s second-goal will linger long in the memory of die-hard Lilywhites. The little magician took off like a fighter jet, waltzing past Greg Bolger on the half-way line and racing towards the Carrick end goal.

He had McMillan to his left, McEleney on his right and a decision to make. Bennett and Kenny Browne backed off, petrified at what he was capable of and justly so as Horgan hammered the ball past the air-borne McNulty.

If the opener lifted the roof, the second rocked the 97-year-old ground to its core. Two-up at the interval, Dundalk were cruising.

Caulfield stood static on the side-line as his players passed him by en route to the dressing room. He must have been pondering his next move. They were excellent in possession during the first-half, but they lacked that killer ball in the final third.

They lacked a Daryl Horgan. How they must be regretting taking Dundalk’s €10,000 in exchange for the Galwegian in 2014 now.

Mark O’Sullivan put Dundalk’s advantage back on tender-hooks early in the second-half, but the Lilywhites held on with scenes that mirrored those from their 2014 title win emanating from the home dug-out. Stephen Kenny was the picture of emotion at the full-time whistle, while Caulfield dejectedly applauded his travelling support.

The momentum had shifted back in Dundalk’s favour, they had regained their midas touch against the Rebels and left Oriel Park “rocking all over the world.” (In reference to the song that Dundalk play on the full time whistle after a home win!).