Dundalk FC :: Match Reports

07 FEBRUARY 2008 // DUNDALK 0-0 DROGHEDA UNITED (Drogheda Win 5-4 on penalties)

Dundalk Impress on Season’s Bow

First Division title favourites Dundalk kicked-off the new season with an impressive 0-0 draw with Premier League champions Drogheda United in the annual Jim Malone Cup final at Oriel Park on Thursday evening. The hosts, installed as short as 6/5 to win promotion this year, dominated possession for long periods, however, they were unable to break the Boynesiders’ resistance, despite creating the chances to do so. And, they were made to pay for their failure to fire in front of goal, as John Flanagan’s miss from the spot handed the visitors a 5-4 win on penalties.

John Gill gave starts to six of his off-season signings, with an all ex-Rovers selection in midfield - Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels and Davie O’Connor. Ian Ryan, meanwhile, started in the centre of defence alongside captain Aidan Lynch, with Robbie Martin partnering Trevor Vaughan in attack. Fellow signing Robbie Farrell then entered from the bench midway through the second-half, however, Aaron Shanahan will have to wait for his first game back for the club as Chris Bennion played the full 90 minutes. Paul Crowley and Ben Whelehan missed out through injury.

On the opposition side, Drogheda handed debuts to new signings Adam Hughes and Joe Kendrick, while trialist goalkeeper Jamie Ewings and youngster Gareth Whelan lined out in the defence of a starting eleven which contained at least seven regulars. Another new arrival at United Park, Sean Prunty tasted his first piece of action for the Drogs when he entered as a second-half substitute in place of Ollie Cahill.

In a quiet opening to the game which saw Drogs go close at one end only to be denied by Bennion before, at the other end, Ewing’s attempted clearance in the full-back area rebounded off Martin and almost found its way to goal, the game was eventually lit up on 20 minutes by a piece of Trevez magic. With nothing seemingly on, the veteran hitman turned on a sixpence at the by-line to find his way past two defenders, however, his powerful goal-bound shot was well pushed away by the netminder, before the covering defence cleared.

Drogs soon replied as Stuart Byrne’s attempted chip was foiled by the home ‘keeper, before midfielder Paul Keegan drove wide from 25-yards. At the other end, as Dundalk pressured their local rivals, David Crawley’s corner on 33 minutes was diverted over his own crossbar by Graham Gartland, before Ryan’s attempted piledriver from the resulting set-piece was well blocked away by Whelan.

Into the second-half, and with just one half-time change - Tony Grant replacing Eamon Zayed as the lone ranger up front - Dundalk again started brightly, although it was Drogheda who came within inches of breaking the deadlock on 48 minutes. Kendrick did well down the left wing and swung in a perfect cross to the back post for Richie Baker, whose header went narrowly wide of the top corner with Bennion beaten. Baker then had another chance minutes later after being put through by Prunty, however, his try at a lob went high and wide with only the ‘keeper to beat.

On 64 minutes, and as the Lilywhites began to dominate, they strung a magnificent passage of play together, which should have resulted in the lead goal. O’Connor showed well down the wing, with Cassidy and Crawley also getting in on the act, before O’Connor’s cross was flicked on by Farrell, only for the arriving Jamie Duffy to fluff his lines and put the ball wide from just four-yards.

Moments later, Farrell found space outside the area but his shot was deflected wide, before substitute Tiarnàn Mulvenna caused the visitors’ defence all sorts of problems after his introduction. On 66 minutes, Mulvenna snuck in behind the backline but saw his shot go wide of the target from just inside the area, before he found himself one-on-one with the ‘keeper minutes later after a superb through ball by Paul Marney. In two minds, however, the lively 19-year-old shot straight into the arms of Ewings as he attempted to chip the stranded netminder from over 25-yards out.

That was to prove the home side’s last clear sight on goal, and Drogheda could well have stolen it late on, only for Hughes, who made a typical run into the area, as his shot went high and wide from a good position after he had been set-up by Gartland.

And, so, it went down to a penalty shootout to decide who lifted the trophy, as Dundalk looked for their first win in the competition since the 00/01 season. Once again, however, it wasn’t to be, as for the fifth time in the eighth renewal of the event, Drogheda came out on top in the shootout. With the scores tied at 4-4 after five penalties each, it went down to sudden death, with John Flanagan unable to answer Brian Shelley’s fortuitous conversion as the Drogheda native’s tame effort was easily saved by Ewings.

PENALTIES:
Dundalk - 4/6
Crawley scored
Duffy scored
Ryan missed
Farrell scored
Mulvenna scored
Flanagan missed

Drogheda - 5/6
Keegan scored
Kendrick scored
Grant scored
Hughes missed
Ristila scored
Shelley scored

Man of the Match: David Cassidy (Dundalk)…Tipped to be the star of the nine new arrivals at the North Louth club in 2008 since signing on in December, Cassidy seems to have already proved that assertion right after only 90 minutes of action. The 22-year-old started in a midfield he knows well as he lined-up alongside ex-Rovers team-mates Paul Shiels, Jamie Duffy and Davie O’Connor, and he settled well on his Oriel bow. Always showing for the ball, not afraid to put his boot in and tackle, and completing almost every pass, Cassidy battled well in the centre and was key to Dundalk dominating for large spells. Most impressive debutant of the eye-catching seven.

Attendance: Approx. 1,500.