Europa Conference League Qualifying: FCB Magpies 0 - 0 Dundalk FC
Nathan Shepperd kept a clean sheet in Gibraltar as Magpies were denied by Dundalk Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)
Dundalk departed Gibraltar with a goalless draw against hosts FCB Magpies at a sweltering Victoria Stadium on Thursday evening.
Following Friday’s late reverse at the hands of Bohemians, Dundalk Head Coach Stephen O’Donnell made two changes ahead of taking charge of The Lillywhites for the first time in Europe- Hayden Muller and Paul Doyle dropping to the bench with Andy Boyle and Ryan O’Kane promoted to the starting lineup.
In the opposition dugout, ex Malaga assistant manager Alfonso Cortijo was also experiencing European competition as Magpies supremo for the first time- the Gibraltarians second successive season to compete at this level, having been downed by a last gap BJ Burns goal at the hands of Crusaders in 2022.
With this in mind, and a relatively new look Magpies squad in preseason under a recently appointed manager, Dundalk travelled to the Rock unsure what exactly would be cooking when they got there.
The high temperatures forecast before kickoff added to the need for a tentative approach to the game and both sides probed their way through the opening quarter hour without really threatening to break the deadlock. However, that all changed coming up to the water break halfway through the first half as visiting wingers O’Kane and Kelly were denied by home keeper Jaylan Hankins before Jack Storer twice came close to a breakthrough- firstly caught narrowly offside when in a promising position before the retreating Darragh Leahy hooked a goalbound effort off the line a few moments later.
Fresh from a halftime rest, the hosts had the best of the opening exchanges in the second period with Giraldez and Casciaro both well placed to open the scoring but neither overly strained Dundalk’s Welsh netminder Nathan Shepperd who had sat on the bench in the same stadium in November 2021 as his Under 21 teammates put seven goals past his opposite number Hankins as the Welsh routed Gibraltar.
However, twenty months later, the home keeper wasn’t to suffer the same fate and, indeed, his side almost snatched victory with ten minutes to go as ex Cork City attacker Liam Nash clipped an effort beyond Nathan Shepperd and the post with Hernandez lurking close by.
With both sides seeking a winner ahead of next week’s return leg at Oriel Park, the final period saw yellow cards shown to representatives of both Dundalk and FCB Magpies but the scoreboard remained blank as the tie remains finely poised with the winners to face either KA Akureyi or Connah’s Quay Nomads in the next round.
F.C. Bruno's Magpies: Jaylan Hankins; Joseph Chipolina (Scott Ballantine 89), Ruben Diaz, Andre Dos Santos, Olmo Gonzalez; Kyle Casciaro (Juan Arguez 59), James Coombes, Jean Carlos Garcia, Joe (Daniel Bent 74), Jack Storer (Liam Nash 46); Jose Angel Giraldez Prieto (Anthony Hernandez 74).
Subs not used: Matthew Silva, Luke Bautista, Francisco Zuniga, Julian Del Rio, Shay Jones.
Booked: Jaylan Hankins (55), Joe (58), James Coombes (59), Ruben Diaz (75).
Sent off: None.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Louie Annesley, Andy Boyle, Archie Davies, Darragh Leahy; Daniel Kelly, Ryan O'Kane (Alfie Lewis 73), Greg Sloggett, Johannes Yli-Kokko (John Martin 87); Patrick Hoban, Connor Malley.
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie, Mark Byrne, Mayowa Animasahun, Robbie McCourt, Hayden Muller, Anthony Moyo, Paul Doyle.
Booked: Darragh Leahy (83).
Sent off: None.
Referee: Mohammad Usman Aslam (Nor)
