Dundalk FC U19 1-6 UCD U19
EA Sports U19 National Underage League Group B
Saturday night was one to forget for the Dundalk U19 team as they were dealt a heavy 6-1 defeat at the hands of UCD at Oriel Park.
There were four changes to the side from last weekend’s game with Athlone Town, as Niall Brady, Val Adedokun, Ryan O’Kane and Mark Hanratty were replaced by Jamie Barry, Michael Keyes, Ryan Kinahan, and Liam McNamee.
The Lilywhites got off to a decent start, with the early minutes having the elements of quite an open game. However, it soon settled down as UCD began to take control of proceedings and Dundalk found themselves pinned back in their own half, with UCD creating numerous chances and forcing goalkeeper Jamie Barry into some good saves.
Stephen McDonnell’s side did have a couple of opportunities to counter but seemed to make the wrong decisions which spurned some promising opportunities. The Students soon capitalised on their dominance to take the lead on 25 minutes, after some slick passing led to an excellent ball through the Dundalk backline for their striker to slot the ball past Barry.
UCD then added a second just four minutes later, as a result of a baffling refereeing decision. The ball was played through to the UCD forward, who was almost ten yards offside, and he slotted past Barry. After a discussion with his assistant, the referee decided that defender Mayowa Animasahun had played the ball, despite that clearly not being the case.
Barry produced more fine saves over the next few minutes but UCD managed to add a third on 36 minutes. The Dundalk goalkeeper produced a stunning double save to deny two opposition players but he couldn’t get across to save the third effort, which was tapped into the empty net.
Jack Kavanagh. Photo by Ciaran Culligan
Dundalk finally had their first clear opportunity two minutes later, as Ryan Kinahan whipped a ball into the box for Ebuka Kwelele, but the ball skimmed off his head and wide and UCD managed to bag their fourth before the break when a near-post flick-on from a corner slipped past Barry and into the net.
The second half continued in a similar vein to the first, with Jamie Barry being called into action early on to deny a strike that looked destined for the bottom corner. The Lilywhites managed to gain the upper hand though and had a spell of control where they created some good goalscoring opportunities. Kinahan had Dundalk’s first chance of the half, as he broke away down the left before cutting inside and curling his effort just over the bar.
Ebuka Kwelele had the ball in the net four minutes later following an excellent cross into the box, but the assistant flagged for offside. Dundalk did get their goal less than a minute later, as Kwelele whipped a brilliant cross into the box for Brandon Holt to slide in and finish.
The momentum of the game soon began to shift once again as UCD regained control once more. The Students bagged a fifth on 71 minutes, as Liam McNamee was dispossessed in midfield and the visitors punished the Lilywhites with some quick passing and a placed finish and they added a sixth with a long range strike late on.
It was a very rough day for the Lilywhites, who will no doubt want to put this game behind them and focus on getting back to winning ways next week when they host Longford Town at Oriel Park on Sunday, August 15th at 2pm.
DUNDALK FC U19: Jamie Barry, Jeff Nwodo, Jack Kavanagh, Enda Douglas, Mayowa Animasahun, Ronan Kilkenny, Michael Keyes, Brandon Holt, Ebuka Kwelele, Ryan Kinahan, Liam McNamee. Subs: Niall Brady, David Doyle, Matthew Thomas-Smith, Fionn Kenny.
