24 JULY 2008: DUNDALK 3-0 MONAGHAN UNITED

THREE AND EASY FOR DOMINANT DUNDALK   Two bullet headers from captain John Flanagan and a Trevor Vaughan penalty extended Dundalk’s lead at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table to five points, for 24 hours at least, on Thursday night, as the Lilywhites easily defeated local rivals Monaghan United by 3-0 at Oriel Park. However, as Dundalk strolled to a comfortable win, they saw their talisman, winger Jamie Duffy, sent-off after receiving his second caution of the night twenty minutes from time. Duffy, the club’s top scorer and the only player in the squad that has started every game this season, will now miss Monday’s trip to Longford.   As was highlighted by left-back David Crawley before the game, an early goal was important, and Dundalk got off to the best possible start as they hit the front after just 53 seconds. Straight from the kick-off, the hosts forced a corner, and Crawley’s delivery from the left was met with a powerful header by Flanagan. Not long before the break, the deadly duo were at it again, as Flanagan connected with another Crawley corner to net an identical goal with another unstoppable finish from close-range.   And, the win was sealed just nine minutes into the second-half, as Trevor Vaughan coolly converted from the spot after being dragged down inside the area. Incidentally, after going nearly four years without a penalty at home in the league, Dundalk have now been awarded one in each of their last two outings at Oriel Park. Both sides were then reduced to ten men in the final stages. Firstly, Jamie Duffy saw red, before Mons substitute Kevin Williamson was also dismissed after being booked twice within the space of just three minutes.   For the visit of Monaghan, manager John Gill called on the same eleven that started last week’s scoreless draw with Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Astonishingly, it was the first time that Dundalk had the same starting line-up in two successive league games since 24 May 2007. To break that down, that is exactly 14 months, 61 weeks, 427 days and 44 games ago since that last happened. Ex-Lilywhite James Hand, meanwhile, was included in the Monaghan team, while new signing Conor McMahon took his place on the substitutes' bench.   In a lightning beginning, Dundalk broke the deadlock with less than a minute on the watch. David Crawley’s corner was inch perfect for in-rushing right-back John Flanagan, who rose to power a header beyond Monaghan ‘keeper, Brendan Kennedy. In total control from the outset, the home side were rarely threatened, and they almost doubled their advantage just past the quarter-hour. Another Crawley corner, this time from the right, was knocked back across goal by Ben Whelehan for young striker Tiarnán Mulvenna, however, the 19-year-old sent his effort off-target.   On the half-hour, Jamie Duffy saw his goal ruled out for offside, before Dundalk finally made it 2-0 on 38 minutes. Crawley sent in the corner once more, with Flanagan again rising to meet the delivery, as he fired an unstoppable header into the net off the underside of the crossbar. It was no more than the hosts deserved, and they almost made the game safe moments before the break with what would have been an amazing goal. Mulvenna picked up possession just inside the opposition half and jinked past four defenders, before falling at the final hurdle as Kennedy gathered the youngster’s shot.   Following the resumption, Dundalk continued their dominance, and they found their third goal of the evening on 54 minutes. Paul Smyth did well to win the ball down the left before crossing for Trevor Vaughan, who was dragged to the ground as he attempted to turn inside the area. The referee had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot, and Vaughan dusted himself down to step up and coolly dispatch the ball to the net with another superb penalty. Past the hour-mark, and Dundalk almost made it 4-0 twice within the space of sixty seconds. Firstly, Mulvenna’s run through the defence was blocked following a clever flick from Vaughan, before the youngster was again denied seconds later, as, after shaping well and finding space to shoot, he saw his effort pushed away by Kennedy.   Sauntering to a facile win, Dundalk were reduced to ten men on 70 minutes. Jamie Duffy, who was booked along with Barry Clancy following the penalty award, saw his second yellow card of the night after a mistimed tackle. That saw Monaghan creep into the game a little more. However, the only shot they had to show for their efforts in the entire match came with just over ten to go, as Paul Whelan’s long-range dipping shot was pushed behind by the outstretched arms of goalkeeper, Chris Bennion. The visitors’ evening was to get even worse late on as sub Kevin Williamson was booked twice within three minutes, as both he and assistant manager Graham Doyle were dismissed. Dundalk then had another sight on goal in the final minute of normal time, however, Robbie Farrell dragged his effort wide of goal.   dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: JOHN FLANAGAN (Dundalk)…Flano, along with David Crawley, had been criticised earlier in the week for his lack of attacking threat. However, within 53 seconds of the first whistle, he put that nonsense to bed with a bullet header from a Crawley corner. His second powerful header of the night, again from a Crawley delivery, before the break as good as sealed the points for Dundalk, as the right-back and captain capped another outstanding display with a deserved place on the score-sheet. Indeed, this was Flanagan’s first double for the club since 20 October 2006. On that night, his two headers, both from Sean Finn free-kicks, helped the Lilywhites to a memorable 3-1 win over Galway United at Terryland Park. Last season, he hit five goals in the opening stages of the campaign, while his only previous goal this term came at home to Wexford Youths in March. Now, back in the groove, however, the combination of Flanagan and Crawley could prove key as Dundalk’s title charge ticks down to the final furlong.   MATCH STATS Goals: 3-0 Shots: 10-4 Shots ON Target: 6-3 Shots OFF Target: 4-1 Corners: 10-1 Fouls Committed: 10-19 Offsides: 2-2 Yellow Cards: 2-5 Red Cards: 1-1   DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Chris Bennion; John Flanagan, Ben Whelehan (Paul Marney HT), Ian Ryan, David Crawley; Jamie Duffy, Paul Shiels (Paul Crowley 65), David Cassidy, Paul Smyth; Tiarnán Mulvenna, Trevor Vaughan (Robbie Farrell 71). Goals: J Flanagan (1, 38), T Vaughan (pen. 54). Booked: J Duffy (54, 70). Sent-Off: J Duffy (70). Unused Subs: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Davie O’Connor.   MONAGHAN UNITED (4-5-1): Brendan Kennedy; Paul Whelan, Aaron Mooney, Ian Malone, Barry Clancy; Brian Gartland, Don Tierney (Kevin Williamson 67), Ian Maher, Eoin Lannigan, James Hand (Stephen McCrossan HT); Robbie Collins (Darragh Hanaphy HT). Booked: I Maher (41), B Clancy (54), D Hanaphy (68), K Williamson (85, 87). Sent-Off: K Williamson (87). Unused Subs: Danny Woods (GK), Conor McMahon.   Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin). Attendance: Approx. 1,500.

 

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