Mark Quigley joined a short list of players to net 20 goals in a season for Dundalk but his late header was not enough to rescue a point as Shamrock Rovers recorded a 2-1 win at Oriel Park on Saturday evening. The decisive strike came when Richie Winter awarded a penalty against the Lilywhites for the fourth time this season, Stephen O’Donnell converting. The Louth club should have had a spot-kick of their own midway through the first half when Quigley was fouled, while Keith Ward had two good efforts, the first a volley which flashed narrowly wide, the second a clever chip which was saved. However, two goals in 15 second-half minutes did the damage, substitute Billy Dennehy firing Rovers in front before O’Donnell added a second on 74.
Early exchanges
Dundalk manager Ian Foster started with the same team that defeated Drogheda United four days earlier, but in front of the watching Michael Hector and Daniel Kearns, the game started quietly, Rovers debutant Rohan Ricketts narrowly caught offside in the opening moments. The first real chance of the game came on eight minutes when Ross Gaynor’s snap-shot from the left of the area caught Richard Brush by surprise, the visiting No1 fumbling the ball, with the defence clearing behind. From Ward’s corner, Carl McHugh headed over. On 14 minutes, Rovers created their first opening when Ricketts released Karl Sheppard in behind the home defence but, unlike in May, he couldn’t finish, his rising shot appearing to be pushed over by Peter Cherrie, but no corner was given.
Penalty appeal
At the other end, Jason Byrne was inches away from connecting in the six-yard box but Dan Murray got back well to clear behind. From that corner, Rovers broke and earned a corner of their own, the first delivery deflected narrowly wide for another. From the same passage of play, Ricketts’ cross almost found Sheppard in the six-yard box but Simon Madden headed away well, before Dundalk dealt with more pressure in the area seconds later. The home side then had very loud appeals for a penalty waved away as Quigley went down inside the box. Dundalk forced a succession of corners past the midway point of the half but none could trouble the Rovers goal. On 32 minutes, Gary Twigg held off Colin Hawkins but the defender’s pressure was enough to see a tame shot easily saved by his fellow Scot.
Ward effort
In the last effort of the opening period, Gaynor chested down to Byrne whose shot went well over. On 49 minutes, Nathan Murphy delivered an out-swinging cross into the box which McHugh attacked but under pressure he headed off target. Three minutes later, after good pressure, the ball fell invitingly to Ward whose attempt on the volley from 35-yards went narrowly wide of goal with Brush struggling. On 56 minutes, Ward again tried his luck, this time from the right of the box, a clever chip gathered close to the line by Brush. Moments later, Quigley burst in from the right but his cross was blocked away, before Madden drilled a low shot which was again cleared. Rovers hit the front on 59 minutes when, with McHugh down injured, Ricketts got into the area and put in a low cross which was missed by Sheppard but buried by Dennehy at the back post.
Penalty
On 66 minutes, it was almost 2-0 but McHugh got back well to clear off the line. However, eight minutes later, Rovers did double their advantage. After verbals between both sides on the halfway line, the visitors attacked and for the fourth time this season Winter pointed to the penalty spot as McHugh pushed substitute Ciarán Kilduff in the back. O’Donnell stood up and converted with ease down the middle. Dundalk tried to respond, Gaynor’s low delivery into the box attacked by substitute Mark Griffin but he couldn’t connect, with the ball running through to Brush. At the other end, Kilduff headed narrowly wide as Rovers looked to completely kill the game. Dundalk tried hard to find a way back into it but Brush’s handling was perfect. And despite Quigley’s header from a Gaynor free-kick finding the corner of the net deep in injury-time, the hosts were unable to find an equaliser in the last 90 seconds as their eight-match unbeaten run came to an end.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie, Simon Madden ©, Colin Hawkins, Carl McHugh, Nathan Murphy, Keith Ward, Greg Bolger, Dean Bennett (Johnny Breen 81), Ross Gaynor, Mark Quigley, Jason Byrne (Mark Griffin 63).
Goal: M Quigley (90+3).
Booked: C Hawkins (90+2).
Unused Subs: Craig Hanlon (GK), Cian Byrne, Philip Duffy, Chris Reilly.
SHAMROCK ROVERS FC: Richard Brush, Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Dan Murray ©, Jim Paterson, Gary McCabe (Billy Dennehy HT), Stephen Rice (Chris Turner 82), Stephen O’Donnell, Rohan Ricketts, Gary Twigg (Ciarán Kilduff 71), Karl Sheppard.
Goals: B Dennehy (59), S O’Donnell (74 pen).
Booked: S Rice (17), P Sullivan (41).
Unused Subs: Craig Hyland (GK), Pat Flynn, Karl Moore, Gary O’Neill.
Referee: Richie Winter (Dublin).
Attendance: 1,700 (Official).
