Dundalk FC :: News

18 JULY 2008: SHELBOURNE 0-0 DUNDALK

LEAGUE LEADERS MAINTAIN CUSHION

League leaders Dundalk maintained their two-point cushion at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table following a 0-0 draw with second-placed Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night - although it wasn’t before they survived a couple of scares from their title rivals. As the Lilywhites soaked up plenty of pressure from the hosts, they were twice carved open, however, on both occasions, the home attack fired straight at visiting goalkeeper, Chris Bennion.

After both teams cancelled each other out in the opening half - the only real chance falling to new Shels signing Andrei Georgescu who fired a curling shot inches wide - the home side took over after the break. However, despite their dominance of possession, they created only two real clear-cut chances. The first of those fell to ex-Lilywhite Anto Flood just shy of the hour-mark, however, as he rose unmarked to connect with a David Freeman corner, the striker headed straight into the arms of Bennion from ten-yards.

Flood had another opportunity soon after but he blasted wildly over the bar when through on goal, before Dundalk almost broke the deadlock twenty minutes from time. Impressive substitute, ‘dundalkfc.com Man of the Match’ Paul Crowley latched on to David Cassidy’s pass, however, after turning smartly on the edge of the area, the midfielder watched as his curling effort went agonisingly wide of Dean Delaney’s left-hand post. Shels then should have stolen it at the death, however, in the final seconds of injury-time, Freeman fluffed his lines as he fired straight at the grateful Bennion following a cross from sub, Gary McCabe.

For the trip to the capital, manager John Gill made two changes, both enforced, to the team that defeated Kildare County at Station Road the previous Friday. Injuries prevented Gill from calling on either captain Aidan Lynch (calf) or striker Robbie Martin (hamstring), as the pair failed to recover from knocks picked up in the first-half against the Thoroughbreds. Coming in to replace that absent duo were Ben Whelehan, who returned following a bout of flu, and Trevor Vaughan. Shels, meanwhile, lined-out with new arrival Andrei Georgescu on the right side of midfield, while centre-half Dean Laurence came in for his first competitive start of the year.

In an uninspiring first-half, both teams struggled to make any inroads in attack, with not a single meaningful shot on target in the opening forty-five. Dundalk had little going forward, however, while Shelbourne had the majority of the ball, they failed to do anything with it. The first chance of the evening fell to the hosts on the quarter-hour, as Robbie Hedderman rose to meet James Keddy’s corner. However, the left-back headed well over the bar from a good position. Not until seven minutes before the interval did the next chance arrive. Georgescu did well to create space inside the box, however, after cutting back inside, the Romanian winger curled an effort past the far post.

Right on half-time, the Lilywhites survived a slight scare when a James Chambers cross from the right found its way over Chris Bennion and had to be headed out in the six-yard box by captain John Flanagan. With three minutes added, Dundalk still had time for one last chance before the break, and they almost made it count as David Crawley’s corner to the back post was cleared behind by the home defence as a number of Dundalk players were lining up to shoot, before the ref blew time on the opening period as Crawley prepared to take another corner.

Following the resumption, both sides found chances easier to come by, as they both went close in the opening quarter. Dundalk were the first to threaten, as Paul Smyth raided down the left and crossed for Jamie Duffy. However, the club’s top scorer was unable to find the net as he headed wide. Soon after, Shels twice wasted good opportunities in the space of just 15 seconds. Firstly, Keddy shot wildly off target before Georgescu retrieved the ball at the by-line and pulled it back for Mark O’Brien. However, from twelve-yards, the midfielder blasted a volley narrowly over the bar.

Moments later, the Reds should have broken the deadlock. David Freeman’s corner from the right was inch perfect for his strike partner Anto Flood. However, with time and space, the unmarked hitman inexplicably headed straight at Bennion when it seemed easier to score. Ten minutes later, he was at it again. Indeed, coming into the game, Flood had scored just one goal in his last eight appearances, and it’s easy to see why as he missed another sitter. As he had shown in his time at Dundalk last season, he lacks a deadly finish, and after finding his way past Ian Ryan, he this time put the ball past Bennion but also a good twenty-yards over the bar. (Four minutes later, he was subbed).

And, Shels were almost made to pay for those misses just seconds later. Good interplay by Dundalk ended with David Cassidy teeing up substitute Paul Crowley - who scored twice after appearing from the bench when these sides last met six weeks ago in the FAI Cup - however, after turning well on the edge of the box, the midfielder curled an effort inches wide of goal, as he narrowly failed to add to last week’s strike in Kildare. Shels were back on the front foot soon after, and they should have found the lead goal ten minutes from time. Dean Laurence kept Freeman’s free in play at the back post, however, Keddy’s shot-cum-cross from the left was just too high for Georgescu.

The chances didn’t end there, though, as the hosts had one last opening in the dying seconds. A quick break forward had the Dundalk defence funnelling back, however, they were unable to prevent Gary McCabe crossing for the unmarked Freeman. With no defence in sight and Bennion staring down the barrel of a gun, the Shels striker pulled the trigger but fired a total blank as his shot was gratefully received by the Scottish netminder. Finished with Tolka Park for the season and two points clear at the summit - Dundalk would have gleefully accepted such a scenario when the campaign kicked off.

SHELBOURNE FC (4-4-2): Dean Delaney; James Chambers, Alan Keely (Alan Byrne 41), Dean Laurence, Robbie Hedderman; Andrei Georgescu, David McGill, Mark O’Brien, James Keddy; Anto Flood (Gary McCabe 72), David Freeman.
Booked: None!
Unused Subs: Fred Davis Junior (GK), Alan Murphy, Mark Rutherford.

DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Chris Bennion; John Flanagan, Ben Whelehan, Ian Ryan, David Crawley, Jamie Duffy (Paul Crowley 59), Paul Shiels, David Cassidy, Paul Smyth (Davie O’Connor 64); Tiarnán Mulvenna, Trevor Vaughan (Robbie Farrell 78).
Booked: None!
Unused Subs: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Paul Marney.

Referee: Ian Stokes (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,473 (Official figure).