Dundalk FC 2-1 Sporting Fingal

DUNDALK SHOW BOTTLE TO SILENCE CRITICS

A sensational first-half goal from Tiarnán Mulvenna and a header shortly after the break from his replacement Robbie Farrell proved enough for Dundalk to return to the top of the League of Ireland First Division table on Thursday night, as the Lilywhites bounced back from two straight losses to defeat promotion rivals Sporting Fingal 2-1 at Oriel Park. Under huge pressure, the hosts showed tremendous togetherness and strength to overcome the first of five hurdles on the title run-in.

Mulvenna struck midway through the opening period with a magnificent solo strike, before the youngster was taken out of the game following a very late challenge from ex-Dundalk defender Brian Kelly. However, the man who entered in his place doubled the Lilywhites’ advantage just after half-time, as Farrell headed in at the back post after Paul Crowley sent David Crawley’s free-kick back across goal.

Fingal soon replied through a wonderful Paul Caffrey half-volley from 30-yards - his marker, Crowley was off the pitch at the time of the strike. However, the visitors, despite some late pressure, couldn’t muster an equaliser and now look to be out of contention for the sole promotion place. Dundalk, on the other hand, returned to the summit - for 24 hours at least - and can now look ahead to next week’s trip to Waterford with confidence.

For the visit of Fingal, John Gill, like last week, made five changes to the side that went down 3-1 to Wexford Youths the previous Friday. Unavailable for selection was suspended midfielder David Cassidy, while Paul Marney, Davie O’Connor, Dessie Baker and Robbie Farrell, who is expected to be banned for next week’s trek to Waterford, bit the manager’s bullet.

Replacing that quintet was the returning midfield trio of Jamie Duffy, Paul Shiels and Derek Doyle, while Trevor Vaughan and Tiarnán Mulvenna came back into the front line. Sporting, meanwhile, were without ex-Lilywhite hitman Robbie Doyle, while Steve Williams, Peter Hynes, Brian Kelly and Christy Doran all had to be content with places on the bench. Other former Dundalk players Chris Deans and Fiachra McArdle both started.

In a bright opening, both sides had chances. Dundalk were the first to threaten as John Flanagan miscued at the back post from a David Crawley free-kick on the left, before Fingal captain Paul Caffrey tested Chris Bennion after a Fiachra McArdle cross was knocked down by the home defence. Then, after a quiet spell, the Lilywhites took the lead with a smashing goal on 24 minutes. From a quick break, Jamie Duffy set Tiarnán Mulvenna free, with the youngster running at Barry Ferguson and bypassing him, before sending a superlative shot with the outside of his right boot beyond Brendan Clarke and into the bottom corner of the net.

With chances of any kind a rarity, the Lilywhites broke again past the half-hour. However, as they attempted to do so, Mulvenna was taken out of the game by Brian Kelly, who was part of the Dundalk squad two years go. In the centre circle, a sharp touch by Mulvenna looked to have got the 19-year-old away. However, Kelly, in a reckless challenge, dived in extremely late and was lucky to escape with just a yellow card. Late? Very. Cynical? No, as Kelly’s time at Oriel Park would prove. Tiarnán was soon replaced by Robbie Farrell.

And, it was Farrell who doubled Dundalk’s lead five minutes into the second-half. A David Crawley free-kick was knocked on by the Fingal backline before it was headed back across goal by Paul Crowley for Farrell to steer in from one-yard at the back post. Moments later, however, the visitors produced their first real shot-on-target, as they forced goalkeeper Chris Bennion to push away a long-range effort. And, soon after, they were back in the game, as Caffrey let fly from 30-yards, with his dipping shot finding its way into the top corner.

Just past the hour-mark, however, Dundalk should have restored their two-goal advantage. Somehow, though, after rounding Clarke, Farrell shot wide when it seemed easier to score. Void of any ideas in attack, Fingal rarely looked like making the hosts pay for that missed chance, and they were again lucky to be left with eleven men as, with twelve minutes remaining, Barry Ferguson clipped Farrell when the striker was clean through on goal.

Sub Peter Hynes then had another effort from outside the box gathered, before, at the other end, Derek Doyle’s shot from a similar distance flew narrowly over the crossbar. Despite looking poor throughout, however, Fingal were far from finished, and they put on plenty of pressure in the closing minutes. Naturally retreating, Dundalk held firm, though they had a scare right on the 90 as they cleared off the line from a corner. After surviving that and over four minutes of injury-time, however, the ref blew up, as Dundalk returned to the top, for a day at least.

Dundalk: Chris Bennion; John Flanagan, Aidan Lynch, Ben Whelehan, David Crawley; Jamie Duffy, Paul Shiels, Paul Crowley, Derek Doyle; Trevor Vaughan (Simon Kelly 93), Tiarnán Mulvenna (Robbie Farrell 43).
Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Paul Marney, Davie O’Connor.

Booked: R Farrell (51).

Sporting Fingal: Brendan Clarke; Brian Gannon, Chris Deans, Barry Ferguson, John Frost (Christy Doran 77); Conan Byrne, Colm James, Paul Caffrey, Fiachra McArdle (Brian Kelly 16); Dinny Corcoran (Peter Hynes 55), Paul Byrne.
Subs not used: Steve Williams (GK), Derek Tyrell.

Booked: B Kelly (38), C Deans (71), B Ferguson (78), B Gannon (93).

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).

Attendance: Approx. 1,700.