Dundalk 2
St Patrick’s Athletic 0
CIARAN KILDUFF AND Ronan Finn scored the second half goals to ensure that Dundalk extended their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League on their return to domestic action at Oriel Park.
Three weeks have passed since the champions went down to Cork City at Turners Cross, ending the first half of the season with a bump, but they soared clear at the top of the table once again after putting Liam Buckley’s side to the sword.
It was more of an absorbing deadlock than a bore stalemate by the time Kilduff scored the opener, but genuine chances to score were few and far between. That was surprising given that Dundalk are the division’s leading scorers and only they and Cork have scored more goals this season than the Inchicore outfit.
It hardly helped that six-goal David McMillan and five-goal Christy Fagan were on the benches for their respective sides. Both took to the field in the second half, but it was after Dundalk had edged in front and by that stage the game was won.
Before they struck, the home sides’ best chances were both efforts from distance. Patrick McEleney tested Brendan Clarke in the first half while Daryl Horgan should have done better when he found space and blazed over.
St Pat’s – who in Sean Hoare had a man relishing the physical battle with Ciaran Kilduff and Graham Kelly a creative and combative force in central midfield – were very much in the game in the first half, but like Dundalk, struggled to carve out chances to concern the opposition.
They came closest when Conan Byrne spotted Gary Rogers off his line from inside his own half. His shot had the goalkeeper worried and he recovered to tip over. But then the game sprang to life. Sam Verdon shot over for the visitors before Dundalk assumed command.
They looked much the likelier to hit the front when McEleney layed on Kilduff’s opener.
He made space for himself on the left hand side of the penalty area and he squared for the striker to stretch out a leg and poke in from close range against his former club. Nine minutes later, it was 2-0. Kilduff’s header struck the post and Finn was on hand to tap in on the line.
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Shane Grimes, Stephen O’Donnell, Ronan Finn, John Mountney, Patrick McEleney (Robbie Benson, 78), Daryl Horgan (Darren Meenan, 90+2), Ciaran Kilduff (David McMillan, 81).
Subs Not Used: Gabriel Sava, Paddy Barratt, Michael O’Connor, Ciaran O’Connor.
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC: Brendan Clarke, Ger O’Brien, Darren Dennehy, Sean Hoare, Ian Bermingham, Conan Byrne, Mark Timlin (Darragh Markey, 82), Graham Kelly (David Cawley, 74), Billy Dennehy, Sam Verdon, Jamie McGrath (Christy Fagan, 74).
Subs Not Used: Pat Jennings, Michael Barker, Rory Feely, Lee Desmond.
REFEREE: Derek Tomney
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They have some neck.
@Patrick Breen: Could still go to the DRA after this and maybe even a court case, who knows?
@Patrick Breen: they’re dead right. Why not just replay the last free again, the idea they have to replay the whole game is a fair solution is madness.
@Paul Mallon: the fact that they blatantly cheated and think they should get away with it is madness.
@Paul Mallon: replay the last free, seriously. So we’ll just make up a new sport..
@Patrick Breen: the more I think about this I’ve changed my mind from it’s 100% a replay to it only warrants a fine! Realistically the chances of a goal with the last kick of the game is unlikely, especially when it’s a 45 with the packed defence fully set up. And it’s telling that the referee allowed the 45 to be taken before the substitutions had been complete properly – Kilmacud will argue that as the subs were not being managed correctly! Players off players on before 45 can take place – clearly ref was going to allow it be taken quickly which added to the panic & confusion. In my view KMc won this game and an extra man on for 24secs over 70+ mins had NO bearing on the outcome. If this was reversed I don’t general public wud be questioning if Glen won it
@BMJF: It’s not really about the likelihood of a goal. Nobody knows what effect the 16th player had, direct or indirect, even as a distraction to the player in possession. The real issue is what happens if there’s no real sanction. Teams will be making substitutions and making sure the player being replaced is at least very slow leaving the pitch. Now we see Glen have pulled out of the appeals process because a replay is unworkable.
@BMJF: especially when it’s an overpacked defence.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: don’t be silly. The GAA will simply learn to make substitutions like every other sporting organisation!! That’s what will happen. Play will pause before a free is taken etc and Players will have to come off before the replacements go on and ref won’t restart the game until they’re in position. It’s not rocket science. GAA should have accepted some responsibility, read their rules and issued a hefty fine the next morning and that would have been the end of it
I’d watch a live stream of that hearing
Hope they throw the book at them and just award the final to the other team.
@Reggie: haha, don’t know about that now Reg. Certainly interested to hear what their grounds for appeal will be though…..seems cut and dried to me that the rule was broken and one of the consequences have been invoked.
The tone of the anti Kilmacud comments is telling. An anti Dub vibe off them. I’m guessing that If this was reversed and Glen had 16 men for 24secs over a 70+ min game, defending a 2point lead with last play of the game, the general public wud be saying that on balance Glen should remain the winners, and that the extra man for 24 secs didn’t really impact the outcome! But because it’s a big Dub club everyone has knickers in a knot!!
If GAA had issued a fine quickly I think Glen would have accepted the result , as their manager did straight after the game
@BMJF: I would say the opposite, the Ulster team (as always) are being portrayed as the bad guys here… maybe I’m wrong
Kilmacud won fair and square on the field of play. Glen will be looked upon as sore losers. There’s no way Kilmacud will replay the match. They are prepared to hand the cup over to Glen. If the Glen club wants to avoid the lasting legacy of poor losers they really should withdraw the objection and gear themselves up to trying to win the title next year on the field of play. That would give the club a lot of respect.
@Brendan Daniel Naughton: ‘fair and square’, hahahaha, are you well.
Great stuff