- Tom O'Connor
- Wed, May 18 2016
Dundalk began the game at a frantic pace, forcing a number of corners, however their efforts all proved fruitless. Despite this they continued to dominate and it took until the tenth minute for Shelbourne to threaten the Dundalk goal. Former Lilywhite Alex Barry’s free kick earned the first of a series of corners for the away team as they attempted to quash the home dominance. The game burst into life in the 14th minute as Jordan Kelly skipped free, was fouled by the keeper who subsequently got booked, but remained upright and saw his shot cleared off the line. The netminder redeemed himself with a great save following the corner and was then counting his lucky stars as the next Dundalk attempt crashed off his crossbar.
Things calmed down and the play became more broken until the 30th minute when Cormac Boyle waltzed through the defence but his low shot from 20 yards was well saved by Matt Lyons. Down the other end and it was Ben Kelly’s turn next to produce a fine stop as he stood up well to repel Harper’s effort following another Barry set piece. And it was from a set piece that Dundalk took the lead when Craven’s free kick from wide on the right found its way to the feet of Reilly and he smashed home from 8 yards out. A minute late Craven tried to get in on the act himself but fired narrowly off target and just before half time, his superb cross field pass was almost turned home by Jordan Kelly.
The second half began in similar fashion as Boyle hit the crossbar following good work from Craven and Ubaezuono while the winger tried his luck a few moments later and forced a great save from Lyons. Twenty minutes into the half Jordan Kelly, who scored last night in the Leinster Senior Cup, almost made it two in as many games but he headed just over following great link up play with Cormac Boyle. The game then descended into a myriad of substitutions and bookings before, in the 83rd minute, Dundalk extended their lead.
Following a set piece on the right wing, Jordan O’Keefe rattled the woodwork and Anton Reilly drove the rebound home from 8 yards out. The midfielder was a colossus all night for Dundalk and finished his chance well. Just before the end, Jordi Ebanda almost put the icing on the cake but Lyons, who made a number of fine stops, was equal to the task.
Martin Connolly’s men march on with this well deserved victory which was all the more impressive considering the fact that 8 players who featured tonight were also part of Stephen Kenny’s senior squad in Dalymount Park last night.
Dundalk: Ben Kelly, James Rice, Emmet Hughes, Eric Whelan, Dylan Hand, Dean Watters, Anton Reilly (c), Cormac Boyle, Garret Craven, Carlton Ubaezuono, Jordan Kelly
Subs Not Used: Oisín Finn, Seán Mc Guire,
Subs Used: Vinny Smith, Shane Gregory, Jordi Ebanda, Adam Finnegan, Jack O’ Keefe
Shelbourne: Matt Lyons, James Brown, Craig O’Connor, Seán Trimble, Cian Fogarty, Ross Coyle, Glenn Carragher (c), Stephen Meaney, Alex Barry, Aaron Ralph, David Harper
Subs Not Used: Ryan O’Neill, Gavin Balfe, Seán Cronin,
Subs Used: Dayle Rooney, Andy Gorman, George Mukete, Stephen Kelly
