Dundalk 2 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
How the first half ended goalless only the man with the big beard up in the heavens knows. Shamrock Rovers had the first chance, Thomas Stewart missed on seven minutes as a right wing cross from ex Drogheda favourite James Chambers saw his side foot effort glide wide of Cherries right post. After ten minutes the game settled and the Lilywhites midfield ably abetted by hard work from Neale Fenn and Faz Kudozovic started to get a grip. To such an extent that Shamrock Rovers struggled to get any play together at all. Stephen Maher had the half of his life as he harried the living daylights out of anything within his scope. The Dundalk midfield dominance was demonstrated when Michael O’Neill withdrew Robert Bayly on 39 minutes to send Stephen Rice into the fray.
For all the home team’s dominance in terms of possession they never
opened up the visitors entirely and their best chance fell to Fenn on
18 minutes when a Ross Gaynor corner to the far post was headed back
across goal to Fenn about four yards out who could only direct his header
straight at Alan Mannus.
The second half started in much the same vein with Dundalk on top and
on 52 minutes they opened the scoring. A Ross Gaynor in swinging corner
was played to the far post where an unattended Fenn headed back across
the goal and it crept past desperate efforts on the line to keep it
out.
The night got even better for the home team when a Gaynor break down
the left saw his cross into the middle fall to Kudozovic, he lost the
ball but it fell to Melligan who showed great tenacity to battle
through a couple of challenges in the box and slot past Alan Mannus
right hand to the corner of the net.
It was all Dundalk at this point and they looked likely to go on and
see the game out. However the visitors struck back through a close
range Twigg goal. Stephen Rice threw the ball into the near post where
Aiden Price got up highest and the ball fell to the Twigg three yards
out with the expected result. Shamrock Rovers really came into the
game on the back of this and may well have got an equaliser had off
the pitch concerns not disrupted their flow.
Chambers picked a second booking for a slightly late
challenge on Maher, as he made his way to the tunnel Michael O’Neill
gave him a consoling pat on the head and was then also sent to the
stand. This incensed some of the travelling support and they started
to take their frustration out on the Dundalk stewards. Garda dogs
restored order but the game was held up for over five minutes whilst
the trouble was quelled.
Despite throwing everything forward Rovers were unable to find an
equaliser and the home team left the pitch with a well deserved
victory to a standing ovation. Michael O’Neill will be hoping that his
boys can regroup on Friday against Galway in Tallaght. Whilst Ian
Foster’s boys face league action next away at St Pats.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Shaun Kelly, Liam Burns, Garry Breen,
Wayne Hatswell; Stephen Maher, JJ Melligan (Ciaran McGuigan 90+3), Tom
Miller; Fahrudin Kudozovic, Neale Fenn (Johnny Breen 87), Ross
Gaynor.
Subs not used: Matt Gregg, Nathan Murphy, Tiarnan Mulvenna
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Pat Flynn, Aidan Price, Dan
Murray, Danny Murphy; James Chambers, Chris Turner (Dessie Baker 67),
Robert Bayly (Stephen Rice 39), Ollie Cahill (Billy Dennehy 61); Gary
Twigg, Thomas Stewart.
Subs not used: Robert Duggan, Paddy Kavanagh
extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Maher.
Referee: Damien Hancock
Attendance: 3200 (estimate).
