Dundalk FC 0-0 Waterford FC

Match Report

Dundalk were denied a late penalty as they were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw with Waterford in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Goalkeeper Sam Sargeant was heroic for the newly-promoted Blues, producing three top-class saves, but Ross Munro also showed his clear quality with a brilliant, confident display.

It was a well-contested match, much better than the end scoreline suggests, with Dundalk on the front foot from the get-go, and early efforts on goal from Robbie Benson, Ciaran McGuckin and Sam Durrant.

Waterford were the first to create a clear opening, though, Connor Parsons’ delicious left-wing delivery finding Padraig Amond who, from point-blank range, was denied by a super Munro save.

Sargeant pulled off an even better stop from the lively Durrant before Munro was at it again to keep his side level at the break.

Both teams went in search of a winner in the second half. Dundalk thought their first victory of the season might be on the way on 86 minutes when sub Cami Elliott – who had earlier seen a strike beaten away by Sargeant – went down in the box but, to the amazement of the home support and bench, the referee booked him for diving.

For the game, Stephen O’Donnell made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 at Saint Patrick’s Athletic last week as Zak Johnson came in for his debut to replace the injured Andy Boyle while Durrant was chosen ahead of Daryl Horgan, who was on the bench. Louie Annesley was named captain for the night.

Backed by a vocal support, Dundalk started well. When Waterford did threaten, Johnson showed plenty of pace up against the excellent Parsons, a good first impression from the Sunderland loanee.

The hosts were making the running, though, and in the fifth minute, Benson unleashed a rising strike from distance which was pushed behind by Sargeant. Soon after, McGuckin found space for a similar-range shot and this time Sargeant got behind a low effort.

On the quarter-hour, Hayden Muller did well to put Maleace Asamoah off in the box after the Waterford No11 looked, momentarily, like he may only have Munro to beat.

Munro was called into action on 23 minutes, his stunning save denying Amond from close range after Parsons’ perfect cross.

After a break in play for treatment to Jamie Gullan, Dundalk came alive. On 35 minutes, Durrant got in on the left of the area and drove a powerful shot which was turned away by Sargeant, before, three minutes later, the winger flashed an effort just past the top corner.

In between those, Dundalk assistant boss Patrick Cregg received a red card after a touchline bust-up with Waterford left-back Ryan Burke.

Before the interval, Munro came to the rescue again when Barry Baggley got in behind Johnson, but a heavy touch helped the Dundalk ‘keeper as he closed the Blues captain down to make another fine stop.

Early in the second half, Archie Davies went on a marauding run deep into the visiting half and, from outside the box, fired agonisingly off target.

Both sides were looking for all three points and there were chances at both ends, the final pass or end product letting them down.