Aiden O’Brien’s fourth-minute goal was enough to send Shelbourne back to the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division table as they came away from Oriel Park with a 1-0 win over Dundalk on Friday night.
Ali Coote had threatened inside two minutes but Shelbourne, who were knocked off the summit last weekend for the first time since March, were ahead soon after when Harry Wood’s cross-field pass caused mayhem and O’Brien was on hand to hammer in.
Eoin Kenny went close to an equaliser for Dundalk in the 12th minute. But, also during the first half, Coote was twice denied, firstly by a good block from Hayden Cann and then a perfectly-timed tackle from Seán Keogh, who kept the Lilywhites within touching distance.
Ryan O’Kane of Dundalk in action during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Shelbourne at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Gerry Scully.
Shels were happy to hold what they had in the second half, and Dundalk went close through Robbie Mahon who was thwarted by ‘keeper Conor Kearns.
Substitute Ryan O’Kane agonisingly struck the post with 11 minutes remaining as Jon Daly’s men put strong pressure on the Shels defence, but Damien Duff’s players held firm to return to the top after Derry City were beaten in Galway.
For the game, Daly made a single change to the team that drew in Derry three weeks earlier as Robbie Benson was replaced by Kenny. Josh O’Connor returned to the substitutes’ bench, replacing Jad Hakiki, who was unavailable due to the terms of his transfer from Shelbourne last month.
Dundalk and Shelbourne players, alongside match officials during a minute’s silence in memory of the late Jim McLaughlin, former Dundalk FC manager, before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Shelbourne at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
Before the match, there was a lovely tribute to our former manager Jim McLaughlin, in the club’s first game at Oriel Park since his passing.
Shels started brightly and Dundalk survived a huge scare in just the second minute when Keogh’s attempted header back to Felix Goddard was short, allowing Coote to nip in and roll the ball past the ‘keeper but Andy Boyle got back to clear.
However, the home side failed to heed that warning and they were behind in the fourth minute when Wood’s pass from the left wing flew over Keogh and was controlled by Coote, Goddard touching the ball away from the forward but only into the path of O’Brien who blasted to the net.
Ali Coote of Shelbourne has a shot on goal blocked by Dundalk goalkeeper Felix Goddard during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Shelbourne at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
Dundalk, and the home support, were rocked by that setback, but they almost responded in the 12th minute when Shane Griffin’s miskick presented an opportunity for Kenny who lifted the ball over the stranded Kearns, but it bounced just the wrong side of the post.
On 18 minutes, Jamie Gullan drove a free-kick straight at Kearns. Then, on 26 minutes, good build-up play from Shels, involving Rayhaan Tulloch, presented them with an opportunity to make it 2-0 but Coote was denied by a brilliant block from Cann.
Four minutes before the break, Shels got in behind through Coote who broke the offside trap but as he prepared to pull the trigger, Keogh got back to make a last-ditch tackle to deny him as Dundalk trailed by just one at half-time.
Harry Wood of Shelbourne in action against John Mountney, left, and Daniel Pike during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Shelbourne at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
On 49 minutes, Kenny picked up a yellow card for alleged simulation in the box. Seven minutes later, Kenny and Keogh combined down the left with the move leading to a chance for Mahon whose shot was turned behind by the foot of Kearns.
Daly made some changes in an attempt to get back into the game, and on 74 minutes, Mountney delivered for substitute Benson, but he could not get the necessary direction on his header to trouble Kearns who gathered.
O’Kane also brought energy to the home side and, after putting in a dangerous cross which was cleared, in the next attack, his low shot agonisingly and almost in slow-motion came back off the post.
Daniel Pike of Dundalk in action against Aiden O’Brien of Shelbourne during the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Shelbourne at Oriel Park in Dundalk, Louth. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
On 85 minutes, after Shels forced a couple of corners, Dundalk broke at pace but Benson mis-controlled as the visitors got back. In injury-time, as Dundalk desperately searched for a precious point, Mountney’s header was blocked by a Shels player on the line in front of Kearns.
But, in front of the 2,234 crowd, the Louth side could not force an equaliser as they suffered a third defeat in four at Oriel Park, leaving them still a point adrift of Drogheda United at the bottom of the table with now eight games remaining for both clubs.
DUNDALK FC: Felix Goddard, Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, Seán Keogh (Robbie Benson 59), Daryl Horgan, Aodh Dervin, John Mountney, Robbie Mahon (Ryan O’Kane 69), Eoin Kenny (Scott McGill 70), Jamie Gullan. Subs not used: Ross Munro (GK), Koen Oostenbrink, Mayowa Animasahun, Josh O’Connor, Luke Mulligan, Norman Garbett.
SHELBOURNE: Conor Kearns, Seán Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin, Tyreke Wilson (Kameron Ledwidge 77), Mark Coyle (Evan Caffrey 60), JJ Lunney (John O’Sullivan 83), Ali Coote, Harry Wood (Mattie Smith 60), Rayhaan Tulloch (Liam Burt 77), Aiden O’Brien. Subs not used: Lorcan Healy (GK), John Martin, Sam Bone, Cian Doyle.
REFEREE: Eoghan O’Shea.
