- Tom O'Connor
- Mon, Apr 25 2016
A game that got away from Martin Connolly’s youngsters but a very decent performance despite an inability to finish chances is the short analysis of Saturday’s Under 19 game at home to Derry City.
After a quiet opening few minutes, the game suddenly burst into life as Duffy cut in from the left and Ben Kelly was forced to make a super reaction save from Farren’s close range strike. Dundalk held most of the next few plays and James Rice, who was a constant threat down the right wing, won a corner which Dean Watters swung in but Ubaezuono headed over. A few minutes later, the same setup resulted in Doherty punching well to clear.
Excellent defensive strength was shown too, on the opposing team, by Eric Whelan to snuff out the threat of Ben Doherty as he broke from midfield. Derry continued to press and in the 30th minute the home side were under pressure in their box and eventually scrambled the ball clear.
Scrappy defending from the Candystripes a few minutes later saw Dalton pick up the pieces of a failed clearance and skimmed a low cross into the six yard area. Unfortunately for him, and Dundalk, the sliding Anton Reilly couldn’t connect. Two minutes later, Cartlon Ubaezuono cut inside and was fouled on the edge of the area. However, Dean Watters effort from the resultant free kick flew harmlessly over the crossbar.
The half drifted to a close as Duffy shot a similar effort over Ben Kelly’s crossbar. The second half took a while to ignite and Dundalk attempted to draw first blood but brave defending from Blake thwarted their attempts following a Watters corner. The visitors pressed down the right soon after and Holden, having been fouled himself, swung over the free kick which saw Ben Kelly fouled as he gathered.
Martin Connolly introduced Jack O’Keefe for Vinny Smith in the 64th minute and the substitute was bundled over in the box a minute later. However, Anton Reilly’s spot kick was saved by Dylan Doherty low to his right. Derry punished this miss a minute later as the impressive Holden had a shot blocked and it fell at the feet of Cathal Farren who coolly clipped the ball past Ben Kelly.
Dundalk had a few half efforts which drifted wide before a mixup in the defence saw Ben Kelly and Eric Whelan get in a tangle under pressure from Farren. The keeper saw red and Holden curled the free kick beyond the reach of replacement netminder Oisín Finn to make it two nil.
The Lilywhites were undeterred and Dylan Doherty had to make an excellent save straight away. His legs denying O’Keefe before he excelled himself in the last minute of the game by making a fantastic close range double save from the same player. And with that, any change of even a consolation goal disappeared.
A game that shouldn’t have been lost but lessons in finishing chances will have been learned.
Dundalk: Ben Kelly, James Rice, Emmet Hughes, Eric Whelan, Dylan Hand, Dean Watters, Anton Reilly (c), Vinny Smith, Keith Dalton, Carlton Ubaezuono, Jake O’Connor.
Subs Not Used: Jordi Ebanda, Aaron Casey
Subs Used: Oisín Finn, Jack O’ Keefe, Cormac Boyle
Derry City: Dylan Doherty, Adrian Delap, Lee Mc Colgan, Jack Blake, Conor Gormley, Dean Power, Rory Holden, Ben Doherty, Stephen Duffy, Sean Toland, Cathal Farren
Subs Not Used: Paul Doherty
Subs Used: Rhys Mc Dermott, Seán Mc Bride, Matty Doherty
