Jim Magilton: 'Hopefully, the fans can see the character shown tonight - that was sheer grit and determination to get a result'

Jim Magilton

Jim Magilton Credit: Ben Whitley (ETPhotos)

David Wilson reports from Oriel Park

A resurgent Dundalk side defeated Shamrock Rovers 2-1 in Oriel Park to bring the Hoops' record breaking league unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.

Dundalk Sporting Director and Interim Manager Jim Magilton was buoyant afterwards following a tough couple of weeks both on and off the pitch as results had been poor along with some players breaking some covid restrictions by heading on a trip to Belfast.

Patrick McEleney and Daniel Kelly tormented the Rovers’ rear-guard grabbing a goal and an assist each and delighting the Dundalk faithful who had been protesting the ownership of the club before the game. 

Magilton will feel a small sense of relief even just for a short while with a three-day turnaround ahead of the next game which is against Bohemians.

“We worked extremely hard this week,” said Magilton. “We recognised the strengths of the opposition. They are an outstanding side but I just thought we carried out (our game plan) to a tee tonight and rode our luck,” said Magilton after the victory on Friday night.

Magilton credited a strong week’s training as the key to success. 

“I just had a vision of how we were going to go about our business tonight and we trained really well this week, I just thought we were at it, but even at that we were sloppy at times.”

Rovers nearly had a last gasp equaliser as a goalmouth scramble which gave Dundalk fans watching at home heart palpitations. 

“We did cause them problems, but in terms of sheer endeavour, work ethic and keeping the ball out of our net which was epitomised in the last seconds of the game where its all hands to the pump, it was great.”



“They (Dundalk) deserved to win; Stephen (Bradley) will probably have a different view and you know he’s probably right too because they were good. But from where we were to raise the levels of performance to that level, now they (the players) have set the standard,” said Magilton.

Kelly was magnificent for Dundalk displaying all the hallmarks of a player who was aiming to make a statement that he should be one of the first names on the team sheet. The Ringsend man was deployed through the centre of the park and revelled in his somewhat unfamiliar role. 

“The front two epitomised the work ethic in the team and that spread right the way through,” said Magilton. 

Chris Shields skippered the side from a centre-half, a position he began his career with in Oriel Park when first signed by Sean McCaffrey. He has since vacated that spot, usually taking up a midfield role nowadays but was a presence alongside Andy Boyle. 

Magilton was delighted with his captain’s performance.

“Chris Shields going in centre-half, he was just fabulous,” said former Northern Ireland player Magilton.



After Monday’s match against Bohs, it will be St. Patricks Athletic next Friday and Dundalk will have new found confidence going into the mid-season break. 

“Monday is going to be a different proposition, it’s a different game. It has come very quickly for us; I wish we had another week’s rest. It’s the same for everybody.”

Fan protests dominated the build up to the game but passed off without any real trouble. 

“Hopefully, the fans can see the character shown tonight; that was sheer grit and determination to get a result for the club and it’s been a tough season. I certainly won’t get carried away, I’m just really pleased that they have gone out and won a really tough game against a top team. 

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