Dundalk FC MU15 2-1 Derry City FC
Sean Spaight and TJ Molloy were on the scoresheet for our MU15 team as they recorded an excellent 2-1 win over Derry City in the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Tier Two North at Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon.
Up against a Candystripes side that included five Northern Ireland internationals, Thomas McShane’s side more than matched their opponents, moving the ball really well from back to front.
The opening 30-minute period saw little in the way of chances but the game opened up in the second period with Fahd Nil Monney and Oisin Smyth going close for the Lilywhites. At the other end, Nathan Keenan saved well from Derry’s Ollie Devlin.
The visitors went in front in the third period when a Derry player blocked John Markham’s clearance and rolled the ball into an empty net but Dundalk showed great heart to recover from the freak goal.
Spaight levelled matters when he rose to head home Shay Casey’s dangerous corner with 15 minutes to play and five minutes later TJ Molloy chased a lost cause down the left, kept the ball in play, rode a tackle and cut inside on his right foot to find the bottom corner.
The Dundalk MU15 players celebrate TJ Molloy’s winner against Derry City on Sunday. Top: Vincent Leonard and Sean Spaight celebrate the equaliser. Photo: Gerry Scully
Dundalk managed the final minutes well and although they had to endure a couple of nervy moments from set pieces, the young Lilywhites held on to record an excellent 2-1 win.
“Derry are a good side with lots of quality so it was a very good display and win,” said McShane, who went on to praise the goalscorers for their contribution.
“Sean deserves a lot of credit,” he said. “On Saturday, he missed a penalty for our MU14 team in their shootout against Cork City but he recovered from that and played 90 minutes and scored for the MU15s on Sunday. I thought himself and Vincent Leonard at the back were fantastic.
“TJ also scored for the MU14 team on Saturday and he came off the bench for us and scored the winner so he has also had a great weekend which is great to see for everyone in the academy.”
DUNDALK FC MU15: Nathan Keenan, Karl Stenson Browne, Vincent Leonard, Jay Madigan, Shay Casey, Fahd Nil Monney, Oisin Smyth, Joe Smith, Alex Gaughran, Tadgh Gorman, Sean Spaight. Subs: John Markham (GK), Conor Patterson, Roan Hickey, Jack Martin, Liam McCabe, Max Halpenny, TJ Molloy, Calum Woods, Dapo Annunlopo.
