CHRIS OF LIFE
Shields’ goal is a big one for deft Dundalk Kenny delight as his side close in on title
AN early goal from Chris Shields settled a controversial night at a throbbing Turner’s Cross where Dundalk effectively dethroned Cork City as champions in their own fiery fiefdom.
In front of Roy Keane, City’s cause was not helped by John Caulfield’s half-time dismissal after a bust-up in the tunnel involving players from both teams and officials.
The City manager clashed with Dundalk assistant Vinny Perth in the tunnel and when linesman Alan Lynch reported the matter to the referee Neil Doyle, Caulfield was sent to the stands.
He spent the remainder of the game chewing gum in the press box while watching helplessly as his team slumped to three league defeats in a row for the first time since 2003.
Afterwards, City’s assistant manager John Cotter, confirmed there had been an incident.
‘All I saw as I was coming down towards the end of the tunnel, there was a few people involved with Dundalk who wouldn’t have been involved in the game and there was something going on with one of our players. ‘We tried to defuse the situation and we got our players into the dressing room. All we know is that a couple of minutes before we were going back out John (Caulfield) was sent off.’ Caulfield is a jack in the box on the touchline and just like Pep Guardiola at the Etihaad on Wednesday night, he was missed. His expulsion, and the defeat, capped a wretched week for Caulfield as the City camp beforehand was rife with speculation of a fallout between Caulfield and some of his players. Perhaps the Dundalk diehards in the 4,310 attendance sensed City’s vulnerability as they unfurled a banner at kick-off, which read ‘Tick Tock Caulfield’.
This was blatantly unfair on a manager who has dragged Cork football up by its bootlaces, not unlike the extraordinary job Stephen Kenny has done at Oriel.
This result has regained the high ground for Kenny and brought Dundalk to within reach of a fourth title in five seasons.
When you add in FAI Cup and League Cup wins, and a group qualification for the Europa League, the Dubliner’s body of work at Dundalk is comparable to the legendary Jim McLaughlin.
‘It was a big win, and a significant one, as our record down here hasn’t been great. The players have been brilliant, that’s 15 wins out of 16. This one puts us in a great position,’ said Kenny, whose team lead Cork by nine points.
Should they beat Derry City in Oriel on Tuesday they will be 12 points clear with four games to go, with a massive goal difference advantage over Cork to boot.
For this extraordinary journey, the craggy Shields has been a constant presence, and Kenny highlighted the Dubliner’s range of passing and ground-devouring stride as key elements in his game.
His name is a symbol for what he brings to Dundalk, as there is no better protector of the back four in the business.
Given his responsibilities, goals are as scarce as hen’s teeth and he was understandably exultant at scoring last night — his third of the season, and only the 15th of his career.
The goal illustrated City’s uncertainty of late as Shields cut in from the left touchline, brushed past Garry Buckley, fed Patrick Hoban and continued his run towards the end of the box.
When the ball broke back off Hoban, Shield swung his right peg and quickly wheeled away in delight as his shot, aided by a deflection off Conor McCarthy, beat McNulty to his right.
‘The goal was a bit of a scruffy one but in the words of Eamon Dunphy “I’ll take it baby”,’ he grinned afterwards.
City claimed a penalty soon after when Graham Cummins tumbled in the box under a challenge from Brian Gartland but didn’t thereafter trouble Gary Rogers in the Dundalk goal.
As for the visitors, for whom Hoban’s work-rate, close control and tenacity may have impressed Keane, they went close to a second through Gartland midway through the second half.
City’s last despairing roll of the dice was to bring on defender Damien Delaney, 37, at centreforward for the final few minutes. The forlorn gesture summed up their plight.
As the Dundalk players celebrated in front of their joyous fans at the final whistle, Hoban teasingly tied a black and white scarf to one of the goal-posts.
For this was Dundalk’s night, and their year too. Just like Jim Gavin, the drive for five under Kenny will continue in 2019. CORK CITY: McNulty; Beattie, McCarthy, McLoughlin, Griffin; McCormack (Delaney 89), Morrissey; Keohane, Buckley (Coughlan 61), Sadlier; Cummins (Daly-Butz 72). DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Hoare, Massey; Shields; Mountney, Benson (Jarvis 86), McEleney (McGrath 75), Duffy; Hoban (Kelly 90). Scorer: Shields 4. Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).