DID YOU KNOW?
UNBEATEN RUN COMES TO AN END
DEFEAT to Bohemians on Friday night was Dundalk’s first domestically in almost exactly six months. Vinny Perth’s side hadn’t tasted defeat in domestic competition since losing 2-1 away to Sligo Rovers on April 12th. Since then they had gone a club record 31 games in all competitions without defeat, including 24 in the league.
FIRST WIN OVER DUNDALK AT DALYMOUNT IN SEVEN YEARS
FRIDAY’S 2-1 win saw Bohs beat Dundalk in the league at Dalymount Park for the first time since July 27th 2012 when they won 2-1. On that occasion Evan McMillan scored a first half double. Michael Rafter got a second half consolation for Dundalk. Current Bohs players Keith Ward and Michael Barker started that night while Keith Buckley came off the bench. Dundalk had won eight and drawn three of the 11 league games played at the Phibsborough venue in the period in between.
BIRTHDAY BOY SUFFERS LOSS
SEAN Murray turned 26 on Friday. Defeat to Bohemians on the same day means he beomes the first Dundalk player to lose on their birthday since Andy Boyle was part of the Lilywhites side which were beaten 4-1 away to Drogheda Utd in March 2014.
FIRST TIME TRAILING IN THREE MONTHS
WHILE Dundalk hadn’t lost a game domestically in six months, Luke Wade-Slater’s first half opener was the first time they had fallen behind in a game in 871 minutes of league action, going back to July 5th when David Parkhouse opened the scoring for Derry City. Prior to Friday, that was also the last time Dundalk had failed to win a league game.
SECOND DEFEAT WHILE SCORING FOR DUFFY
FRIDAY night’s 2-1 defeat was just the second time in his Dundalk career that Michael Duffy has scored for Dundalk and lost. The previous occasion came on August 28th 2018 when he was on the scoresheet as Dundalk lost 2-1 to Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park. Duffy’s goal was his 12th in the league this season, leaving him just one behind Patrick Hoban in the race for the top scorer title. It was also his 39th for the club in all competitions, a feat previously achieved by Johnny Lavery and Brian Byrne. It was also his 33rd league goal for the club, the same amount scored by Ben Hannigan. His 94th minute strike means Dundalk avoided blanking for just the third time this season.
PLAYER LANDMARKS
SEAN Hoare returned to the side on Friday night for what was his 70th league start for Dundalk. It was also his 27th in the league this season, the same number as he managed last season. Daniel Cleary also returned to the side from suspension for what was start number 32 of the season for him in all competitions, the same as he managed last season with one sub appearance in each campaign. It was just a sixth league start for Georgie Kelly and a fourth for Cameron Dummigan.