Jason Byrne continued his hot scoring streak midway through the second half to maintain Dundalk’s 100 percent record this year as they gained some revenge for last season’s League Cup semi-final loss with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Monaghan United in a pre-season friendly at Oriel Park on Thursday night. For the second time in five days, Dundalk were stunned by an early goal as Shane Fitzgerald gave the visitors the lead inside five minutes, but Dean Bennett quickly replied with a close-range header, before Byrne was coolness personified to give Ian Foster’s men a well-deserved victory. Stephen Maher later added to a night of positives as he made his first outing of the year.
Trading blows
With the first leg of the Setanta Sports Cup tie with Linfield fast approaching, Foster paired Bennett and Eoghan Osborne at the heart of the defence, but it was a move which backfired early on. With Osborne feeling the effects of a tight hamstring, Bennett was forced to cover but he lost his footing which allowed ex-Lilywhite Declan O’Brien to skip into the area at the by-line and cut the ball back for Fitzgerald who had the easiest of tasks to shoot to the net from ten-yards. Dundalk replied with a shot from Byrne which was blocked, but on ten minutes they drew level. Ross Gaynor was fouled close to the left corner flag and Daniel Kearns’ resulting delivery was onto the head of Bennett who rose highest to power a header home from six-yards as he grabbed his second goal of pre-season.
Quigley close
Dundalk were dealt a blow on 21 minutes when Osborne was forced off, with Michael Hector, who is unavailable for the Windsor Park date on Monday, coming in. Before the half-hour mark, Mark Quigley tried his luck from distance but his effort cleared the crossbar. Moments later and the former Saint Patrick’s Athletic striker could not have went closer as he curled a wonderful 30-yard free-kick over the Monaghan wall only to see it crash back of Gabriel Sava’s right-hand post. The free had come as a result of a foul on Stephen McDonnell who had made an impressive forward run before eventually being clipped from behind. On 33 minutes, Dundalk had goalkeeper Peter Cherrie to thank as he produced a magnificent save to deny Fitzgerald his second of the game, as the Scottish star got down low to deny a powerful 12-yard effort after a corner had dropped to the winger.
Ward assist
At the break, Foster introduced new signing Greg Bolger for his debut in place of McDonnell, and after a quiet start to the second half, Dundalk created a clear-cut opening on 56 minutes. Byrne sprung the offside trap down the right wing and his cross found its way to Gaynor who, with the ‘keeper stranded, shot wildly off target. On the hour mark, Ward, who put in a magnificent display in the middle of the park, won a free-kick down the left, which was taken quickly to Kearns, who eventually rolled the ball to captain Simon Madden but his long-range drive was blocked away. The home side hit the front on 67 minutes. Ward was creator as he slipped a delightful through-ball to Byrne who took a neat touch before coolly rounding substitute ‘keeper Aaron Shanahan and rolling the ball into the net. It was Byrne’s fourth goal in four outings for his new club. Shanahan then denied sub Johnny Breen with a fine reflex save following a cross from Byrne, before the ex-Dundalk ‘keeper also got in the way of Maher’s late effort.
DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Peter Cherrie; Simon Madden ©, Dean Bennett, Eoghan Osborne (Michael Hector 21), Nathan Murphy; Daniel Kearns (Stephen Maher 75), Keith Ward, Stephen McDonnell (Greg Bolger HT), Ross Gaynor; Mark Quigley (Johnny Breen 75), Jason Byrne (Marc Griffin 80).
Goals: D Bennett (10), J Byrne (67).
Booked: None.
Unused Subs: Paul Murphy (GK).
MONAGHAN UNITED FC (4-5-1): Gabriel Sava (Aaron Shanahan 61); Paul Whelan, Dave Rogers, Conor McMahon (John Reilly HT), Shane Grimes; Eric Foley, Seán Brennan (Shane Barrett 61), Ryan Brennan, Alan Byrne, Shane Fitzgerald (Andy Haran 61); Declan O’Brien (Daragh McNamara HT).
Goal: S Fitzgerald (5).
Booked: None.
Unused Subs: None.
Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).
