13 APRIL 2008: DUNDALK YOUTHS QUALIFY FOR FAI CUP FINAL!!!

FAI YOUTH CUP SEMI-FINAL SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 1-2 DUNDALK FC Sunday 13 April 2008: Richmond Park   IMPRESSIVE YOUTHS PROGRESS TO FINAL   An 89th minute strike from Sean Conlon booked Dundalk Youths a place in the 2008 FAI Youth Cup final, as the young Lilywhites fought back from a goal down to defeat Saint Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 at Richmond Park on Sunday morning. Conlon coolly struck in the final seconds, after captain Gerard Connolly had cancelled out Andy Haron’s first-half opener, to give Dundalk a fully deserved victory following a smashing performance.   Having gone close to scoring twice in the best two chances of the game, Stephen Carragher’s men fell behind against the run of play just short of the half-hour as hesitancy in defence allowed Haron through for an easy tap-in. However, from there on, Dundalk continued their dominance, and went within inches through Barry Woods, Billy Smith and a superb 30-yard strike from Conor Gorman. And, it was from that effort that the equaliser came, as Connolly powerfully headed home Stephen Hutchinson’s pinpoint delivery from the resulting corner.   Indeed, Dundalk should have been in front long before Conlon’s late winner, as Gary Clarke twice could have given his team the lead. Midway through the first period, Hutchinson supplied another superb cross from inside the Pats half to put Clarke in behind the backline. However, with space to take the ball down, Clarke instead chose to head first time, with his weak effort easily gathered by Marc Gibbons. Five minutes later, great play on the left flank by Woods saw him beat his man before crossing for Clarke at the back post. However, this time the youngster arrived too early to connect.   And, those two misses were to prove costly within sixty seconds of the latter effort, as Haron put Pats ahead on 27 minutes. A mix-up between defence and goalkeeper saw what seemed a harmless attack give the Saints the lead, as Haron nipped in ahead of Donal Greene to round the netminder and easily dispatch to the net. Undeterred, however, Dundalk fought back, with Woods seeing his goal-bound shot blocked inside the area after a super cross from the impressive Clarke.   The Lilywhites continued to hold most of the possession between then and the break, though Pats could have doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as Steve Fitzpatrick pulled the ball back for Aaron O’Connor, whose powerful effort forced Greene to push the ball over. Following the resumption, however, Dundalk upped the ante even further, and they should have scored three times in the opening quarter of the half.   Firstly, the eye-catching Hutchinson combined well with Conlon on the edge of the area, before crossing from the left for Woods. Unmarked just ten-yards from goal, however, last year’s ‘Under-18 Player of the Year’ sent a weak shot straight at the Pats ‘keeper. Four minutes later, Dundalk troubled Gibbons again, as Smith’s cracking 25-yard free-kick produced a good save from the netminder, who tipped the ball behind. From the corner, the Dundalk players celebrated as they thought they had found a leveller in a goalmouth scramble, however, the referee waved play on.   On the hour-mark, Ken Keenan headed narrowly wide for Pats in a rare attack, before Dundalk got their just rewards soon after. Thirty yards from goal, Gorman picked up possession and unleashed a stunning effort which seemed destined for the top corner, only for Gibbons to pull off an unbelievable save to push the ball out for a corner. From the set-piece, however, Dundalk couldn’t be denied what they had been threatening for long periods, as another excellent Hutchinson delivery was this time converted as captain Connolly smashed the ball home with a header from six-yards.   Hit by that, Pats attempted to respond, however, they found the Dundalk defence in impressive form, as led by Connolly, they let little past them. An off-target long-range drive from substitute Jason Oldeedle late on was the most Pats could create, and with just 90 seconds left on the clock, the Lilywhites grabbed a deserved lead. Sub Sean Hand supplied Smith, who held off his man brilliantly before sliding the ball through to the in-rushing Conlon. And, with just the ‘keeper to beat, the smallest man on the pitch held his nerve to fire past Gibbons from just inside the box to spark wild celebrations from the visiting bench.   With four minutes of injury-time indicated, however, it very nearly turned sour for Dundalk as Pats were denied by a top class save from Greene within seconds of the restart. Oldeedle jinked his way past the defence before crossing for Haron, who thought he had scored, only for Greene to produce a stunning stop before the covering defence cleared. That proved to be Pats last chance, with Dundalk comfortably holding out until the final whistle, as the highly impressive youngsters booked a meeting with Wexford Youths in the decider on Sunday 18 May.   dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: STEPHEN HUTCHINSON (DUNDALK). The young left-back was possibly the best performer in an all-round wonderful team display. Attendance: Approx. 200.   Saint Patrick’s Athletic (4-4-2): Marc Gibbons; Ian Finlay, David Fagan (Captain), Graham Dowling, Alan McGrain (James Colley 67); Jon Flynn, Alan McCann, Aaron O’Connor, Ken Keenan (Jason Oldeedle 78); Andy Haron, Steve Fitzpatrick. Goal: A Haron (27). Subs Not Used: Roy Gilmore (GK), Shane Shandall, Ken Madden, Kenny Osibuabue.   Dundalk FC (4-4-2): Donal Greene; Barry McKenna, Adrian Rafferty (Alan Markey 91), Gerard Connolly (Captain), Stephen Hutchinson; Gary Clarke (Sean Hand 74), Shane Greene, Conor Gorman, Sean Conlon; Billy Smith, Barry Woods. Goals: G Connolly (62), S Conlon (89). Booked: G Connolly (31), C Gorman (77). Subs Not Used: Peter Gallagher (GK), Niall Franklin, John McKenny, James Clarke, James Brennan.

 

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