Despite late goals from Cian Byrne and Peter Thomas, Dundalk U19s fell short as they were defeated 3-2 by Monaghan United in difficult conditions at Gortakeegan on Saturday afternoon, as they lost their place at the top of the FAI National U19 League Northern Division. Poor defensive mistakes saw the young Lilywhites trail by three goals at half-time. Dundalk U20s battled back from an identical scenario at the venue last year to win 4-3, but Martin Connolly’s side were unable to repeat that revival this time around as Derry City took over at the summit.
Punished
In monsoon weather on the astroturf pitch, Dundalk started brightly and created the first real chance after eight minutes when Chris Reilly shot over from 18-yards. However, the visitors were behind before the quarter-hour mark. Midfielder Rob Sweeney was dispossessed on the edge of his own area and Monaghan punished him in clinical fashion as they hit the front. Playing against a gale-force wind in the first half, Dundalk struggled at times to get out of their own half, with their potent strike-force of Reilly and Bob McKenna starved of any service. Dundalk fell further behind ten minutes before the break, after Monaghan were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box.
Possession
Lilywhites stopper Craig Hanlon could only parry the set-piece, with the in-rushing Monaghan player given the easiest of tasks to fire in. On 39 minutes, it got even worse for the Louth club as a long clearance from the home defence saw Hanlon hesitate, with the Monaghan striker getting there before him and finding the net. Dundalk went on to dominate possession in the second half but it was not until the 75th minute that they pulled one back as Byrne fired in a superb 35-yard free-kick. Connolly’s players threw everything at their opponents in the final quarter-hour but despite Thomas’s fortuitous goal from distance deep in injury-time, they never seriously threatened a comeback.
DUNDALK FC: Craig Hanlon, Karl Martin, Cian Byrne ©, Peter Thomas, Brian Bird, Kurt Murphy, Darragh Keena (Conor Macken 75), Rob Sweeney (Daniel Hand HT), Conor McDonald, Bob McKenna, Chris Reilly.
Goals: C Byrne (75), P Thomas (90+2).
