An 83rd-minute strike from John Flood sealed victory for Dundalk over Drogheda United at Oriel Park on Thursday night as the Lilywhites captured the Jim Malone Cup for the first time in almost ten years with a deserved win. Flood had given the home side the lead after just six minutes but his early opener was cancelled out by a wonderful header from ex-Dundalk favourite Paul Crowley twenty minutes from time. However, the former Bray Wanderers hitman struck again late on after a flowing move from defence ended with the 26-year-old sliding the ball past Paul Murphy from close-range.
Flood opener
Dundalk entered the game having lost the last nine renewals of the annual competition, and Ian Foster made two changes to the team that defeated Bray last weekend as Peter Cherrie and Flood replaced Matt Gregg and David McGowan, who has since returned to the UK. And it was Flood who drew first blood as the hosts made a lightening start to the game. Ross Gaynor, who was again impressive down the left wing throughout, crossed for Neale Fenn whose shot was blocked only as far as Flood who volleyed home from eight-yards.
Lively encounter
On 12 minutes, Fenn had another opportunity but this time his square-ball was cut out with Flood ready to pounce again. In a lively encounter, both teams struggled to seriously test either ‘keeper, but it was not for the want of trying. Just shy of the half-hour mark, Gaynor again worked his magic down the flank and his cross dropped to Wayne Hatswell whose thunderous left-foot effort flashed just past the post. In a rare effort on target for the visitors, Joe Kendrick drilled a 35-yard free-kick into the arms of Cherrie, before Dundalk found a second goal moments later, only for the flag to be raised.
Breen denied
Alan Cawley’s clever feet had created the opportunity as he found space and crossed for Hatswell who knocked the ball back to Garry Breen who finished tidily, only for the former Galway United defender to be denied by the linesman. The home side went close again on the stroke of half-time as Fenn’s cross from the right was connected with on the meat by Gaynor but his powerful effort was well pushed away by Paul Skinner, as Dundalk took a narrow lead into the break. Both sides made substitutions at the interval, and after the restart they again failed to make inroads in attack.
Crowley stunner
Midway through the half, Flood threatened an insurance goal, but, after breaking through, his second touch saw the ball run into the hands of Murphy, who replaced Skinner at the break. Shortly after, from nowhere, Drogheda hit back as Crowley, who scored ten goals during Dundalk’s 2008 First Division title triumph, sent a looping header from 15-yards to the top corner of the net. The Boynesiders then looked the more likely to snatch a winner, with Michael Daly going close ten minutes from time, his 25-yard effort inches off target. Cherrie, who was subbed at half-time, was by this stage doing stretches in the dugout, presumably in anticipation of a penalty shootout.
Late winner
However, Flood fired in with just seven minutes remaining to finish off a fantastic team move, which began with Fenn in his own backline and ended with Gaynor crossing from the left for the Dubliner to slide into the far corner. Drogheda almost replied with a second equaliser in the dying seconds but Kendrick was denied twice, first his 25-yard curling free-kick being pushed around the post before his header from the resulting corner was brilliantly palmed away by Gregg. It was the first time that Dundalk lifted the trophy since August 2000 and only the second time they have come out on top in the 13 times the competition has been played since starting back in 1997. It was also the first time that the Lilywhites had won the cup on home soil.
DUNDALK FC (4-4-2): Peter Cherrie (Matt Gregg HT); Shaun Kelly, Garry Breen (Jason Mok 66), Liam Burns, Wayne Hatswell; Stephen Maher, Tom Miller (Robert Bayly HT), Alan Cawley (Michael Synnott 66), Ross Gaynor; Neale Fenn, John Flood (Johnny Breen 87).
Goals: J Flood (6, 83).
Unused Subs: Ciarán McGuigan, Billy Smith.
DROGHEDA UNITED (4-5-1): Paul Skinner (Paul Murphy HT), Corey Treacy, Alan McNally, Jamie Harris, Joe Kendrick; Brendan McGill, Eric McGill (Paul Crowley HT), Michael Daly, Declan Edwards (Darragh McNamara 62), Brian King (Robbie Martin HT); Glen Fitzpatrick (Jamie Duffy 68).
Goal: P Crowley (70).
Booked: R Martin (65).
