KILDARE COUNTY 1-2 DUNDALK FC
Friday 11 July 2008: Station Road
 
DUNDALK TAKE OVER AT THE TOP
 
Second-half goals from midfielders Jamie Duffy and Paul Crowley shot Dundalk two points clear at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table on Friday evening, as the Lilywhites defeated ten-man Kildare County 2-1 at Station Road to return to the summit for the first time since mid-May. The win, coupled with results elsewhere as title rivals Shelbourne and Waterford United both dropped points, means that Dundalk have now led the table at the end of series one and two.
 
After controlling the opening period but failing to find a breakthrough, Duffy drew blood for the visitors just 30 seconds after the restart with a superb finish, as his delicate chip from a tight angle found the top corner. John Gill’s men should have been further in front soon after, and could have been out of sight before substitute Crowley doubled their advantage on 76 minutes. That strike came after the hosts had Paul Donnelly dismissed for a professional foul on Tiarnán Mulvenna just past the hour-mark.
 
Only on the pitch a matter of moments, Crowley fired in at the second attempt after his first effort, following a David Crawley corner, was cleared off the line. Within two minutes, Kildare, who rarely threatened throughout, were back in the game, as Colin Murray - son of Martin Murray, who managed Dundalk to the First Division title in 2001 and FAI Cup glory in 2002 - headed in at the back post. However, the hosts were unable to threaten Chris Bennion’s goal again in the remainder of the game, as Dundalk comfortably held out to move clear at the top.
 
For the short trip south, manager John Gill made just a solitary change to the side which narrowly defeated Athlone Town at Oriel Park the previous week, as Paul Smyth replaced the dropped Davie O’Connor on the left wing for just his third start of the year. Elsewhere, the team remained the same, with captain Aidan Lynch and Ian Ryan partnering each other in the centre of defence. The manager’s options in that area were largely reduced as Ben Whelehan was unable to travel due to flu, while Simon Kelly’s transfer has yet to be completed due to there being a delay in his international clearance coming through.
 
For much of the match, Dundalk controlled proceedings. However, despite sauntering to an easy win in the possession stakes in the opening period, they failed to make a breakthrough despite going close a number of times. Their first opportunity of the evening came after just three minutes, as a David Crawley corner dropped to David Cassidy just outside the area. However, after shaping well, the midfielder fired inches wide of Austin O’Neill’s right-hand post as Kildare survived an early scare.
 
The Lilywhites were then hit with an injury blow just moments later, as Aidan Lynch limped off with a recurrence of a troubling calf injury. The 30-year-old was replaced by Paul Marney. In a rare foray forward, Kildare created their only chance of the half on ten minutes, as Ciaran Kilduff got in behind Ian Ryan before firing poorly wide with just Chris Bennion to beat. As Dundalk continued to dominate, they found another chance just shy of the half-hour. Robbie Martin’s clever flick put Tiarnán Mulvenna through, however, he was forced wide of goal, before returning the ball to his striker partner, who fired into the side netting.
 
Six minutes before the break, Dundalk were forced to shuffle their pack once more as Martin was withdrawn due to a hamstring injury, with Trevor Vaughan replacing the 25-year-old. Before the interval, however, the visitors had one last chance to take the lead. The lively Jamie Duffy found space on the right and crossed for the in-rushing Mulvenna, who was unlucky to see his flicked header go inches over the crossbar.
 
As Dundalk entered the dressing-room at half-time, Shelbourne were trailing Limerick by two goals at Tolka Park - a scoreline which seemed to inject new life into the Lilywhites as they took the lead just 30 seconds into the second-half. A neat pass by Vaughan put Duffy past ex-Dundalk left-back Baba Isaaka, with the winger running on to the through ball and firing in a sublime finish, as his chip from a tight angle found the far top corner. The goal was Duffy’s seventh of the season and easily his best of the lot. The 24-year-old found himself with another opening just seconds later, however, this time he shot straight at O’Neill.
 
Duffy and Vaughan then combined once more, with the latter seeing his shot from long-range go off-target, before Cassidy almost found a second on 53 minutes. Duffy’s cross from the right landed at the feet of the midfielder on the far edge of the area, however, despite a well struck and well placed shot, O’Neill got down to make a good save. Moments later, Dundalk should have made it 2-0. John Flanagan’s stylish back-heel found Duffy, who delivered an inch perfect ball for the unmarked Mulvenna. However, from 12-yards, the young striker sent his effort wide of goal.
 
The game then further turned in the Louth club’s favour on 63 minutes. Mulvenna was sent clear on goal, however, as he attempted to break free, he was wrestled to the ground by Paul Donnelly, with the referee given no option but to dismiss the Kildare defender. Following that, Dundalk had more chances to double their lead, with the best falling to Vaughan, who shot well wide after picking up Cassidy’s cross from the left.
 
The Lilywhites didn’t have to wait long to find a second, however, as substitute Paul Crowley appeared to have put the game beyond doubt fourteen minutes from time with his first league goal for the club. Only on the pitch a minute as Gill used his only tactical sub of the night, Crowley saw his shot from a Crawley corner cleared off the line, before he retrieved the ball and planted the rebound in the top corner past a host of Kildare players. Dundalk’s two-goal cushion didn’t last long, however, as the home side pulled one back moments later, as Colin Murray headed in at the back post after Paul Shiels had cleared a goal-bound effort.
 
That goal seemed to have ensured a nervy end for the large travelling support, however, Dundalk played out the remaining fifteen minutes with the minimum of fuss. Indeed, the Lilywhites could have restored their two-goal advantage on 85 minutes, however, Vaughan headed wide after connecting with Ryan’s cross.
 
dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: JAMIE DUFFY (Dundalk).
 
MATCH STATS
Goals: 1-2
Shots: 4-20
Shots ON Target: 1-6
Shots OFF Target: 3-14
Corners: 2-10
Fouls Committed: 10-13
Offsides: 1-2
Yellow Cards: 1-2
Red Cards: 1-0
 
KILDARE COUNTY (4-4-2): Austin O’Neill; Colin Murray, John Brophy, Paul Donnelly, Baba Isaaka (Eoin Powderly 80); Craig Mooney, Eoin Kavanagh (Thomas Morgan 76), Colin Fortune, Barry Slattery (Gregg Kilkenny 60); Ciaran Kilduff, Ger Robinson.
Goal: C Murray (78).
Booked: C Mooney (45).
 
DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Chris Bennion; John Flanagan, Aidan Lynch (Paul Marney 6), Ian Ryan, David Crawley; Jamie Duffy, Paul Shiels, David Cassidy, Paul Smyth (Paul Crowley 75); Robbie Martin (Trevor Vaughan 39), Tiarnán Mulvenna.
Goals: J Duffy (46), P Crowley (76).
Booked: P Shiels (14), D Crawley (81).
Unused Subs: Morgan Cranley (GK), Davie O’Connor.
 
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).
Attendance: Approx. 230.