HOBAN FOR THE BEST
Star striker Pat crocked ahead of cup final date
Corcoran 22 ACE marksman Pat Hoban is a significant injury concern for Dundalk ahead of their FAI Cup final showdown with Cork City next weekend.
Scorer of 32 goals this season – 29 of them in the league – he went down in a heap at Dalymount as team-mates celebrated Dan Cleary’s leveller 12 minutes from time.
In obvious pain, the striker eventually got to his feet after lengthy treatment but was hobbling badly and had to be assisted to the dugout.
With an uninterrupted week ahead, Dundalk will give Hoban every chance of winning his fitness battle with a double on the line.
But he had to be helped across the pitch to the dressing room after the full-time Dundalk Corkcity Shamrock R Waterford St Patrick’s Bohemians Sligo Rovers Derry City Limerick Bray Cleary 78 P W 36 27 36 24 36 18 36 18 36 15 36 13 36 12 36 13 36 7 36 5 D 6 5 8 5 5 9 6 3 6 3 L F A 3 85 20 7 71 27 10 57 27 13 52 44 16 51 47 14 52 45 18 38 50 20 47 70 23 25 75 28 23 96 Pts 87 77 62 59 50 48 42 42 27 18 whistle. Dundalk finished strongly and you sensed they would score with Bohs – denied a top half finish by the late goal – tiring after an electric performance up to then. But the champions lacked spark until that late revival though Stephen Kenny won’t be unduly concerned by that a week out from the final.
Lilywhites skipper Stephen O’donnell made his return to action since breaking his leg away to Waterford in May.
But unsurprisingly his lack of sharpness was evident.
Kenny also deployed winger Michael Duffy in an unusual central role but the ploy backfired as the hosts made hay in an impressive first half showing.
Their goal midway through was a treat and while Dinny Corcoran applied the finish, he and his team-mates raced to celebrate with Keith Buckley.
He was the dynamo and set off on a lung-busting drive into enemy territory before beating Dane Massey and providing the inch perfect cross. Bohs would have been two up were it not for Gary Rogers’ double save to deny Keith Ward and then Kevin Devaney close in.
Livewire Ward was denied again soon after by Rogers who acrobatically saved with his foot.
But anything Rogers could do, opposite number Shane Supple was at least equal to.
Also using his feet – with the help of defender Dan Casey – he turned a Duffy shot from close range over.
And yet Dundalk were not themselves, whereas Bohs were a bundle of fun and Corcoran was close again but the woodwork denied him.
But you can never write Dundalk off and Cleary – who signed a two-year deal extension yesterday – nodded in a close range header from a Duffy corner.