Dundalk's Michael Duffy saw a shot clip the post. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Dundalk 0
AEK Larnaca 0
Caoimhín Reilly reports from Oriel Park
DUNDALK WILL VISIT Cyprus for next Thursday’s return leg with their Europa League destiny in their own hands following tonight’s scoreless encounter with AEK Larnaca.
Michael Duffy went closest for the Lilywhites in the first half of a drama-laced encounter, where Austrian official Harald Lechner took centre stage.
The whistler produced a yellow card, immediately followed by a red, for Patrick Hoban as Dundalk chased a winner late on, before realising that he hadn’t previously booked the striker and calling him back into play.
It was another bizarre moment on a night to forget for the official, who booked four Dundalk players and continually drew the ire of manager Stephen Kenny. The Austrian was booed off the pitch at the final whistle.
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Patrick Hoban was incorrectly shown a red card, a decision the referee then reversed. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The Lilywhites enjoyed the better of a tense opening half, with Duffy going close on nine minutes. A week after his wonder strike in the victory over Levadia Tallinn, the Derry native took flight from the halfway line before his curled effort from the edge of the area clipped the outside of the post.
Chris Shields enjoyed a dominant display in midfield for Dundalk. However, Stephen Kenny was indebted to defender Seán Hoare — who was featuring at right-back after Seán Gannon was ruled out through injury — as the sides went to the break scoreless.
A breaking ball in the area found Joan Tomas on the penalty spot, but — out of nowhere — Hoare slid to block the Spaniard’s strong shot, with the same player firing the rebound over.
Australian international Apostolos Giannou ought to have done better with a second-half opportunity when Gary Rogers saved at his feet, while Acorán blazed another effort wide.
Dylan Connolly of Dundalk under pressure from AEK Larnaca's Thomas Ioannou. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
The match finished amidst a glut of Dundalk pressure. Duffy and Hoban had efforts on target.
With both sides having failed to grasp a stronghold in the tie, it’ll be all to play for in Larnaca next Thursday.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Seán Hoare, Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary, Dane Massey (Dean Jarvis, 80); Chris Shields, Robbie Benson; Dylan Connolly (Ronan Murray, 84), Jamie McGrath (Patrick McEleney, 67), Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.
AEK Larnaca: Tono Ramirez; Igor Silva, Joan Truyols, Mikel Gonzalez, Thomas Ioannou; Larena Jorge (Nacho Cases, 84), Hector Hevel; Acorán, Ivan Trickovski, Joan Tomas (Tete, 62); Apostolos Giannou (Onisiforos Roushias, 90).
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria).
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Entertaining first leg between Dundalk and AEK Larnaca leaves Europa League tie in the balance
Dundalk 0
AEK Larnaca 0
Caoimhín Reilly reports from Oriel Park
DUNDALK WILL VISIT Cyprus for next Thursday’s return leg with their Europa League destiny in their own hands following tonight’s scoreless encounter with AEK Larnaca.
Michael Duffy went closest for the Lilywhites in the first half of a drama-laced encounter, where Austrian official Harald Lechner took centre stage.
The whistler produced a yellow card, immediately followed by a red, for Patrick Hoban as Dundalk chased a winner late on, before realising that he hadn’t previously booked the striker and calling him back into play.
It was another bizarre moment on a night to forget for the official, who booked four Dundalk players and continually drew the ire of manager Stephen Kenny. The Austrian was booed off the pitch at the final whistle.
The Lilywhites enjoyed the better of a tense opening half, with Duffy going close on nine minutes. A week after his wonder strike in the victory over Levadia Tallinn, the Derry native took flight from the halfway line before his curled effort from the edge of the area clipped the outside of the post.
Chris Shields enjoyed a dominant display in midfield for Dundalk. However, Stephen Kenny was indebted to defender Seán Hoare — who was featuring at right-back after Seán Gannon was ruled out through injury — as the sides went to the break scoreless.
A breaking ball in the area found Joan Tomas on the penalty spot, but — out of nowhere — Hoare slid to block the Spaniard’s strong shot, with the same player firing the rebound over.
Australian international Apostolos Giannou ought to have done better with a second-half opportunity when Gary Rogers saved at his feet, while Acorán blazed another effort wide.
The match finished amidst a glut of Dundalk pressure. Duffy and Hoban had efforts on target.
With both sides having failed to grasp a stronghold in the tie, it’ll be all to play for in Larnaca next Thursday.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Seán Hoare, Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary, Dane Massey (Dean Jarvis, 80); Chris Shields, Robbie Benson; Dylan Connolly (Ronan Murray, 84), Jamie McGrath (Patrick McEleney, 67), Michael Duffy; Patrick Hoban.
AEK Larnaca: Tono Ramirez; Igor Silva, Joan Truyols, Mikel Gonzalez, Thomas Ioannou; Larena Jorge (Nacho Cases, 84), Hector Hevel; Acorán, Ivan Trickovski, Joan Tomas (Tete, 62); Apostolos Giannou (Onisiforos Roushias, 90).
Referee: Harald Lechner (Austria).
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AEK Larnaca Europa League League of Ireland LOI Report Dundalk