LILYWHITES SUCKER PUNCHED BY WATERFORD KO
 
A Luke Fitzpatrick header five minutes into injury-time completed a smash and grab 1-0 win for Waterford United on Friday night, as the Blues struck late to down a dominant Dundalk side at the RSC. Despite being outclassed for the entire game as Dundalk put in an excellent team performance, Waterford capitalised on a shocking refereeing decision in the dying seconds, as Fitzpatrick headed in at the back post from a corner that never was.
 
However, it should never have come to that, as Dundalk should have been out of sight by half-time. Midfielder David Cassidy and striker Robbie Martin created the best openings, with the latter guilty of some wayward finishing. Just moments after blasting wide with only the ‘keeper to beat, Martin crashed an effort back off the crossbar following a brilliant turn and shot from the edge of the area.
 
The Lilywhites continued their dominance following the resumption, however, they were again unable to find the back of the net. Cassidy and Martin were once more the tormentors, as the pair both saw goal-bound efforts blocked, before Martin fired inches wide of the top corner after being set-up by his partner in crime. Inevitably, all of those glaring misses were to prove costly, as Fitzpatrick’s late, late winner fired the Blues right back into the promotion race.
 
For the long trip south, Dundalk were without the services of suspended duo, Chris Bennion and David Crawley, and injured pair, Aidan Lynch and Robbie Farrell. As a result, manager John Gill was forced to shuffle his pack for the 39th league game in succession, as Aaron Shanahan and Ian Ryan came into a side which showed two changes to the team which lined-out against Sporting Fingal prior to the June break. With Shanahan starting, reserve ‘keeper Morgan Cranley sat on the bench as he entered the squad of sixteen for the first time.
 
After a slow beginning from both sides, Dundalk took over following the quarter-hour mark, and went close to taking the lead on 24 minutes. A free-kick from inside his own half by Ben Whelehan was pumped into the area, with David Cassidy finding himself in behind the home defence. However, the midfielder saw his shot from the right cleared behind for a corner. Following a flowing move involving Shane Grimes and Davie O’Connor down the left, Cassidy was in again just five minutes later, however, once again, he was denied as he this time saw his shot cleared off the line.
 
Shortly after the half-hour, Cassidy was again causing problems as he sent Robbie Martin through. However, the striker saw his effort deflected into the arms of the ‘keeper. Martin was then clean through on goal four minutes later as O’Connor set his team-mate free with a neat pass. However, with just Packie Holden to beat, Martin fluffed his lines and blasted high and wide of the target. Moments later, the ex-UCD goal machine again almost found the deadlock breaker, however, after a smart turn on the edge of the box, Martin crashed his effort back of the crossbar as Waterford somehow survived once more.
 
Following another close call as Cassidy saw his curling effort saved, the half-time interval came and went, with Dundalk continuing to pepper the hosts’ goal in search of the elusive opener after the break. Firstly, Trevor Vaughan saw his 25-yard effort go narrowly over the crossbar, before the Lilywhites should have again taken the lead on 54 minutes. Cassidy broke into the box but saw his effort blocked into the path of Martin, whose powerful effort came back off the ‘keeper. Martin then saw his rebound deflected away, before Jamie Duffy’s cross met the striker off balance as his header went wide of the far post.
 
Dundalk continued their dominance thereafter, and they again came close to taking the lead on 66 minutes. Cassidy was again the provider as he found his way in behind the defence, before passing to Martin, who fired agonisingly wide of the top corner from 15-yards. As miss after miss continued, it appeared as though it wouldn’t be Dundalk’s night, and so it proved in the final seconds, as the visitors’ night turned sour deep into injury-time.
 
With four minutes of added time indicated by the fourth official, Waterford broke through on goal in the final seconds of those, with John Flanagan left with no option but to commit a professional foul. Flanagan was immediately shown red, however, his tackle looked to have saved Dundalk a point as Kevin Waters’ free-kick from the edge of the area was deflected wide by his own player. However, the referee somehow thought it to be a corner - a decision which proved to be fatal, as Dave Warren’s set-piece was headed in at the back post by Luke Fitzpatrick, with Aaron Shanahan unable to keep the ball out despite getting a hand on it. Incidentally, the goal was scored on exactly 94:40.
 
Indeed, that should have been the last action of the game, however, Dundalk still had time for two more close calls. Firstly, Cassidy saw his shot from inside the area cleared off the line, before the midfielder delivered a superb cross into the six-yard box from the ensuing play only for two Lilywhite players to somehow divert the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.
 
dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: DAVID CASSIDY (Dundalk).
 
MATCH STATS
Goals: 1-0
Shots: 8-19
Shots ON Target: 3-11
Shots OFF Target: 5-8
Corners: 5-2
Fouls Committed: 15-9
Offsides: 1-5
Yellow Cards: 2-1
Red Cards: 0-1
 
WATERFORD UNITED (4-4-2): Packie Holden; Kieran Fitzgerald, David Breen, Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Gary Dunphy (Stephen Quigley 69), Dave Warren, Kevin Waters, Michael Foley (Luke Fitzpatrick 58); Vinny Sullivan, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 62).
Goal: L Fitzpatrick (90+5).
Booked: D Breen (70), K Fitzgerald (89).
Unused Subs: Ben Spicer (GK), John Hayes.
 
DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Aaron Shanahan; Paul Marney, Ben Whelehan, Ian Ryan (John Flanagan 59), Shane Grimes; Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels, Davie O’Connor (Paul Crowley 83); Trevor Vaughan, Robbie Martin (Tiarnán Mulvenna 78).
Booked: B Whelehan (74).
Sent-Off: J Flanagan (90+4).
Unused Subs: Morgan Cranley (GK), Paul Smyth.
 
Referee: Ed McNally (Cork).
Attendance: 480 (Official Figure).