League leaders Dundalk Youths were twice denied a late penalty as Shamrock Rovers came from 2-0 down to snatch a draw in the DDSL U18 Super League at Carolan Park on Saturday afternoon. An early spot-kick from Cian Doyle was added to by Michael Gray’s strike before the midway point of the first half, which appeared to put Dundalk well on the road to victory. However, Rovers pulled one back before the break and found an equaliser 13 minutes into the second half. Seanie Crosbie and Doyle then had loud penalty appeals waved away in the final ten minutes, as the young Lilywhites recorded their first draw of the season.
Dominant
Alan Browne’s side, returning to competitive action for the first time in six weeks following the Christmas break, quickly settled, as they made a bright start with good passing and all-round play. And they broke the deadlock on ten minutes. Scott Craven did well down the left and fired a low cross into the box for Daniel Hand who was fouled, with Doyle standing up and smashing the ball to the bottom corner. On 20 minutes, the visitors doubled their advantage. This time Doyle was the provider as his delivery into the area was picked up by Gray who fired to the roof of the net.
Turnaround
Dundalk dominated the opening 35 minutes, but Rovers were soon back in the game. A sliced clearance fell to the Hoops, with a cross finding their striker, who looked well offside, and he shot past Johnny Connolly. Straight away, that lifted the Hoops’ spirits, though they were unable to find a leveller before half-time. After the resumption, Craven supplied a superb through-ball for Gray to run onto but his shot was well saved by the home ‘keeper. That stop proved even more valuable shortly after as, on 58 minutes, Rovers equalised. The Hoops won a free-kick on the edge of the Dundalk box, with their captain stepping up and firing goalwards, and despite getting a hand to it, Connolly was unable to keep it out.
Appeals
Both sides had chances thereafter, but it was the last ten minutes that should have seen Dundalk take all three points. On 83 minutes, Crosbie picked up possession outside the box and ran at the Rovers defence, forcing a foul inside the area, only for the referee to play on. It was the same story three minutes later, when Doyle dazzled his way past the Hoops’ left-back and was taken down, but once more the official was not interested. The last chance to collect maximum points came on 88 minutes but Crosbie saw his header from a Roy Kierans corner go narrowly wide. With Bohemians in cup action, Dundalk extended their lead at the top to three points, but the Gypsies have a game in hand.
DUNDALK FC: Johnny Connolly, Ryan Duffy, Roy Kierans, Aidan Sheehy, Jack Clancy, Michael Gray, Scott Craven (Rowan Quinn 55), Kurt Murphy, Seanie Crosbie, Cian Doyle, Daniel Hand.
Goals: C Doyle (10 pen), M Gray (20).
