McEleney strike May be crucial
SOCCER IRISH DAILY MAIL FAI CUP
WHEN Dundalk reflect on their back-to-back titles in recent years and how they got there, matches in May will probably rarely make the shake-up.
However, a late winner by Darren Meenan away to Limerick in May 2014 at Thomond Park and an even later winner by John Mountney over Derry City in Oriel Park 12 months later proved absolutely huge results en route to the Premier Division title.
If Stephen Kenny’s side go all the way this season then Patrick McEleney’s 93rd minute winner over Wexford Youths on Sunday can surely be added to the list.
On an evening when last season’s leading goalscorer Richie Towell returned to Oriel Park to collect a plethora of awards, it was somewhat fitting that it was the man signed to replace him that popped up with the all important winner that, in the short term at least, ensures Dundalk’s four point lead at the top of the table remains intact.
That means that no matter what happens in Friday night’s crunch clash away to Cork City, Dundalk will lead the table going into the mid-season break.
As a preparation for that game, it could be significant too. Cork – who had finished up two hours earlier with a 3-0 win over Longford Town – would have been all together on the team bus when news of that late strike filtered through.
Elation for Dundalk, a blow for the Rebels – it was unwittingly the first blow in what is expected to be an intense battle this week.
The Lilywhites have shown plenty of times in the past that they are capable of grinding out results when under the cosh but this wasn’t the usual backs-to-thewall performance from Wexford Youths. Shane Keegan’s side looked to take Dundalk on and their strategy of taking early shots on proved fruitful for the most part as the home side struggled to break down a stubborn defence which was well marshalled by goalkeeper Graham Doyle.
Goals in the 12th minute of either half from Paul Murphy and Eric Molloy looked like it would condemn Dundalk to their second league defeat of the season – a result which would have been the worst possible outcome ahead of the trip to Turner’s Cross.
However, if ever Dundalk played their get out of jail card it was here and it was their trio of substitutes that made the difference. Darren Meenan equalised direct from a corner kick 14 minutes from the end before McEleney, playing his first match since the victory away to Shamrock Rovers on April 22nd, popped up with his second league goal for his new club in the third of five minutes of additional time.
It was the third substitute, club captain Stephen O’Donnell, who made the most telling contribution though. There were a few grumbles from the stand when he was introduced in place of Sean Gannon 16 minutes from the end instead of Ciaran Kilduff. However, Kenny showed exactly why he is a top coach by making the right call.
O’Donnell brought composure to proceedings and turned the game on its head dramatically. It was his shot that brought about the corner which would lead to Meenan’s equaliser and he did many simple but telling things right after that.
With him and McEleney back in full flow, Dundalk should only get stronger and that is a scary prospect for the chasing pack.
While Kenny wouldn’t have wished for such a tough game, the elation from it can act as a perfect springboard for the side going into what is arguably the biggest game of the season to date against Cork this Friday.
Fans coming to Oriel Park in recent times have become used to seeing opposition sides setting up in a defensive manner and while Wexford managed to defend well for the most part they also looked to take the game to the champions. That meant we were served up a real cracker that had the feel of a cup game about it.
To be fair to the Lilywhites they had absolutely flown out of the traps and could have taken the lead after just a minute when Daryl Horgan’s cross from the left was headed clear only as far as Mountney, who forced a low stop from Doyle which the ‘keeper had to gather at the second attempt despite the winger not really catching it cleanly.
David McMillan then also tested the goalkeeper after breaking in from the right onto his left foot but Wexford showed their determina- tion not to make up the numbers when Molloy attempted a lob from just inside the Dundalk half on five minutes that wasn’t too far away.
Still, it looked like a breakthrough was inevitable for the home side as they poured forward time after time. Oriel Park was rocked on 12 minutes, however, when Wexford took the lead.
Murphy shrugged off the challenge of Chris Shileds before unleashing a 30 yard shot that bounced in front of Gary Rogers before creeping under the goalkeeper to the bottom left hand corner.
It was the first time since the defeat to Cork that Dundalk had fallen behind this season and the first time since the opening day victory away to Bray Wanderers that they had conceded in the first half.
It could have been a lot worse though as Wexford went close to making it two on 16 minutes. Murphy, who was proving a real handle, won a free kick which John Bonner curled over the wall only to see it beaten away at the expense of a corner by Rogers.
Having survived that scare, Dundalk pressed for an equaliser with Dane Massey having a header blocked on its route to goal before Doyle pushed clear a free from Horgan with Stephen Last making a brave block to deny McMillan from the follow up.
That pair would have a major role to play in Dundalk’s 24th minute equaliser though. Ronan Finn found space to the right of the penalty box to cross towards McMillan who managed to nod down for the inrushing Horgan to sweep home his fifth league goal of the season.
The home side upped the ante after that with Brian Gartland heading over four minutes later from Mountney’s corner before Robbie Benson saw a low shot kiss the right hand upright and go wide after being slipped clear to the left of goal by Finn.
Wexford were always a threat though and on 38 minutes Bonner’s ball over the top played Molloy in behind the Dundalk defence only for his heavy touch to allow Rogers to smother.
Andrew Mulligan then fired over before Gartland was required to intervene to head back to Rogers before Murphy could pounce on another long ball forward.
Still, Dundalk always looked the more likely to hit the front and probably should have done so less than 90 seconds after the restart when a loose ball fell Horgan’s way on the penalty spot only for the winger to blaze over.
McMillan then went on 56 minutes when he got a leg to Shields’ ball out of defence to prod the ball past Doyle but wide of goal.
Dundalk were then rocked for a second time when the visitors took
the lead a minute later. Mulligan found time to turn and get a shot away in the box and although it was blocked the loose ball was picked up by Molloy on the left, who brushed past Meenan all too easily before firing a low shot under the leg of Rogers at his near post.
It was the first time in 16 league matches stretching back to the 2-2 draw away to Cork City on October 23rd last year that Dundalk had conceded twice in a game.
The home side briefly appeared rattled by that fact and despite continued pressure never really looked like scoring in the moments afterwards with a Ryan Delaney header backwards that looped over Doyle the closest we came to an equaliser.
McMillan did go close after that when he chased down a long ball before beating Last and being denied by Doyle. However, it was the introduction of O’Donnell that changed the game and he almost had an immediate impact when he charged forward from midfield within seconds of his introduction to send a piledriver goalwards that Doyle had to tip over.
Dundalk were given a real lifeline when the resultant corner from Meenan curled directly to the net.
It looked as though their opportunity for a winner had passed, however, when McEleney saw a shot clawed away by Doyle low to his left four minutes from the end.
Dundalk were not to be denied though and in the third minute of stoppage time quick thinking by Finn saw him release McEleney on the left with a quick free kick and the Derry man made no mistake by cutting inside onto his right foot to fire to the bottom corner.
There were still a few nervy moments to follow as Rogers had to save a low shot from Bonner two minutes later but the full time whistle was greeted with sheer delight.