Dundalk FC :: News

DUNDALK FC 3-2 SPORTING FINGAL
29 May 2008: Oriel Park

SPIRITED LILYWHITES SEND WARNING SHOT TO SHELS

An astonishing fight-back lifted Dundalk back to the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table on Thursday night, as the Lilywhites recovered from a damaging early blow to defeat Sporting Fingal 3-2 in a breathless encounter at Oriel Park. The hosts were reduced to ten men, left without a goalkeeper and trailing by a goal midway through the first-half. However, they incredibly turned it around with a magnificently spirited performance from thereon, to come out on top in one of the most thrilling and pulsating games seen at the border venue in many years.

With Chris Bennion sent-off for chopping down Peter Hynes in the area, and with no sub ‘keeper on the bench, right-back Paul Marney went into goal. However, he was powerless to prevent Robbie Doyle’s spot-kick. Instead of pushing on, though, Fingal sat on their lead, and they were punished for that in the 49th minute of the opening period. An innocuous cross from the left by Davie O’Connor was gathered with ease by ex-Lilywhite Steve Williams, however, he then inexplicably carried the ball backwards and over the line to give Dundalk a bizarre equaliser.

That was the break the home side needed, however, despite being on top, and with the teams evened up as Fingal’s Colm James saw red just past the hour-mark, John Gill’s men were hit with a sucker punch on 73 minutes, as Doyle - complete with tights - took full advantage of captain Aidan Lynch’s slip-up. Not to be denied, however, the Lilywhites produced a stirring response in the final quarter-of-an-hour, with goals from Jamie Duffy and Tiarnán Mulvenna seeing Dundalk come-from-behind for the second time in the match and complete an unlikely comeback.

For the game, Gill made just one change to the side which hammered Wexford Youths 5-0 the previous week. A groin strain picked up in that match ruled Ian Ryan - who played in a midfield role in Ferrycarrig - out, with Paul Shiels, who returned from suspension, coming in to partner David Cassidy in the centre of the park. Defender John Flanagan sat out once more after he went for an operation on his ankle on Tuesday, while striker Tiarnán Mulvenna again had to be content with a place on the bench as Trevor Vaughan and Robbie Martin continued in the front line.

Indeed, it was that duo that combined for the first attack of the match, however, after a neat knock-down by Martin, Vaughan’s long-range effort failed to seriously trouble Williams. Fingal then showed their attacking threat as James fired wide after finding space, before, following little goalmouth action at either end, the game changed on 21 minutes. Hynes broke the offside trap, and, with Bennion the last line of defence, the Scot took down the ex-Dundalk striker inside the box - a mistimed tackle which prompted referee Derek Tomney to point to the spot, before he also produced a red card.

That decision left the hosts with a dilemma as, with Aaron Shanahan sidelined through injury, no replacement netminder was among the five substitutes. As a result, ‘Mr. Fix It’ Paul Marney donned the gloves, which means he has now played in the following positions during his Dundalk career - goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, central defence, right-midfield, left-midfield and central-midfield! Marney’s first task, however, was to pick the ball out of the back of the net, as Doyle coolly converted the resulting penalty.

Thereafter, the Lilywhites tried desperately to find a way back into the game, however, despite winning in the possession stakes, they failed to engineer any clear-cut chances on the Fingal goal in the remainder of the half. With five minutes of injury-time added on at the end of the period, though, Dundalk raised one more gallop before the interval, and it was an attack which produced a crazy levelling goal. O’Connor’s delivery from the left-wing appeared harmless as Williams rose to claim the cross with ease. However, upon landing, the Welsh-born ‘keeper proceeded to somehow carry the ball backwards and over his own goal line.

Following the resumption, Fingal began slightly the better, however, they twice failed to test Marney after finding themselves in space on the edge of the area. Firstly, Doyle shot high and wide, before James did likewise from a similar placing. That pair’s night got even worse just four minutes later, as after Doyle’s penalty claim - following a challenge from Ben Whelehan - was waved away, James was shown a straight red card for his vehement protest at that decision. Despite being in the ascendancy after that dismissal, however, Dundalk were hit with what seemed a knockout blow on 73 minutes as Doyle stole in to intercept Lynch’s back-pass, before rocketing the ball beyond Marney.

Unperturbed, however, the Lilywhites responded immediately, as they netted their second equaliser of the night within ninety seconds. Mulvenna’s flicked header found Duffy, who, from a tight angle, turned well and drilled a shot past Williams at his near post. The winger was then soon replaced by Paul Crowley - who was returning from a broken nose - and it was he whose effort created Dundalk’s winning goal on 84 minutes. Crowley thought he had found the clincher when he turned inside the box and fired goalwards, however, his shot crashed back off the upright. Mulvenna was on hand to easily fire the rebound to an empty net, though, as the Oriel outfit sent a clear warning shot to their title rivals.

dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: PAUL SHIELS (Dundalk)…Difficult to single out one performer in a superb all-round performance from Dundalk, Paul Shiels narrowly gets the MOTM vote ahead of his central midfield companion, David Cassidy. Shiels returned to action for the first time since his sending-off against Shelbourne three weeks ago, and he showed his importance to the team here as he helped to inspire the Lilywhites to a priceless win. The 28-year-old covered all areas of the pitch during the 90 minutes, with his endless running, tracking back, closing down of the ball, tackling and tenaciousness proving key in the hosts securing victory. Shiels is another player that has faced criticism from some sections of the Oriel Park support during the season, however, nobody could question a simply outstanding display from him here.

DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Chris Bennion; Paul Marney, Ben Whelehan, David Crawley, Shane Grimes (Aidan Lynch 33); Jamie Duffy (Paul Crowley 82), Paul Shiels, David Cassidy, Davie O’Connor (Tiarnán Mulvenna 67); Trevor Vaughan, Robbie Martin.
Goals: S Williams OG (45+4), J Duffy (75), T Mulvenna (84).
Booked: J Duffy (44), D Cassidy (71), P Shiels (90+3).
Sent-Off: C Bennion (22).
Subs Not Used: Paul Smyth, Robbie Farrell.

SPORTING FINGAL (4-4-2): Steve Williams; Derek Tyrell (Aidan Collins 36), Chris Deans, Dave Rogers, Brian Kelly; Conan Byrne, Brian Gannon, Paul Caffrey, Colm James; Peter Hynes (Jim Crawford 67), Robbie Doyle (Dinny Corcoran 77).
Goals: R Doyle (pen. 24, 73).
Booked: P Caffrey (51), J Crawford (71).
Sent-Off: C James (62).
Subs Not Used: Fiachra McArdle, David Bracken.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).
Attendance: Approx. 1,000.