Dundalk return to form ahead of Europa League and FAI Cup
TINY margins, in this case centimetres, can often decide crucial Cup ties.
They can have a bearing not just on the outcome of a game, but act as a platform on which a successful Cup campaign is built.
Perhaps such an incident occurred in the 35th minute of Friday night’s FAI Cup quarter final between Dundalk and Bohemians and when wingback, Cameron Dummigan strained to reach a ball along the end line in Dalymount Park to supply the cross from which David McMillan brilliantly headed a crucial third goal for the visitors.
Was the ball over the end line before Dummigan reached it ?
Well endless TV replays were inconclusive, although the belief was shared by all involved in the RTE broadcast that the ball had crossed the line before Dummigan retrieved it.
That incident embellished the debate on an absorbing Cup tie, and added yet another page to the growing catalogue of controversial incidents that are a part of the folklore of every Cup campaign.
Like another ‘line’ incident in the 1952 campaign when the day after a 1st round tie at Oriel Park the ‘Irish Independent’ published a picture showing the Dundalk ‘keeper, Walter Durkan in the act of retrieving the ball at least two feet over the line.
The English referee officiating failed to see Durkan scoop the ball back into play and Dundalk went on to win the game 3-2 with the winner set up by a player, Joe Martin who thankfully is still with us today to talk about the incident.
Dundalk went on to reach the Cup final that season, having survived that “goal that never was” incident, and the current Dundalk team may in time also reflect on the Dummigan incident at Dalymount Park on Friday night if they go on and win the Cup.
The disputed goal was not however the deciding factor in the game, but it was crucial in the context of providing Dundalk with the cushion of playing out the second half in the manner they wanted, defending deep, and hitting Bohs on the break when afforded the space.
Nor should it deprive Dundalk of the recognition they deserve for the quality and professionalism of their performance or the merit of their victory.
From the start this was a transformed Dundalk from the side that turned in uncharacteristic and at times embarrassing performances as they scraped qualification for Europe next season in their final League games.
Rejuvenated from a ten day break from their hectic game every three days schedule, and with adequate time on the training pitch to properly prepare, the players were focused and alert from the very start.
Motivation which had been at the heart of Dundalk’s problems after the resumption of the sports lockdown imposed in March, most notably in their domestic league games, was clearly rekindled for Friday’s matches which the players identified beforehand as their most important of the season.
Consequently they turned in by far their most impressive domestic performance of the season, reigniting their old sp arkle that made them invincible for the last few seasons for at times a good Bohs side, laced with fine young well coached players, were unable to live with Dundalk’s physicality and experience.
Credit too most good to coach, Filippo Giovagnoli whose game plan of using a back three of Brian Garland, Andy Boyle and Daniel Cleary, and pushing wing backs, Sean Gannon and Dummigan high up the field caught Bohs by surprise for it allowed Dundalk create space down the flanks that Gannon and Dummigan exploited, each contributing to the first and third goals.
The three at the back also allowed Cleary to advance more with the ball than playing in a back four allowed, and he showed his footballing instincts with some decisive support play and passing, especially in the first half when he slotted Duffy in for the penalty he won.
As usual Chris Shields anchored the midfield with his usual authority showing good discipline to control his enthusiasm for the tackle after a first half booking, and Greg Sloggett was always in and around the midfield battles, winning his fair share of possession.
In front of them the attacking trio of Duffy, McMillan and Stefan Colovic continually stretched the home defence with their movement and appetite for the ball, with Duffy having his best game of the season.
Indeed it is difficult to fathom how he was overlooked for ‘man of the match’ in favour of Dummigan, for he scored one, won a penalty and put the fourth goal on a plate for Nathan Oduwa.
Buoyed by his abortive call to the Irish setup, he looked a different player from the start, moving onto a very cleverly disguised pass from McMillan in the 2nd minute his pace and strength holding off a challenge that allowed him shake off the hesitancy that invaded his game in recent weeks to instinctively crash the ball under the despairing dive of Talbot.
It was a different McMillan too, looking sharper than in any other game since his return, and more like the player that illuminated the 2016 season, his confidence obviously boosted by his two goals against Rapid Vienna in the last European game.
His value to the team was illustrated by his pass for Duffy’s goal, and his instinctive qualities as a finisher were on show for the manner in which he got across his marker for a near post header that yielded the third goal.
Colovic’s inclusion was a surprise given his recent form, but he too played his part, although he failed to hit the target with a first half heading chance, and never seems to take the best options when he gets into good positions.
In keeping with his regular policy the coach introduced a host of second half changes, giving playing time to the trio returning from injury, Patrick McEleney, Daniel Kelly and Oduwa, who notched the fourth goal after Duffy
was freed by a magnificent Shields pass and could have had a second late on as Bohs abandoned all pretence at defending in search of a gaol.
A fifth goal for Dundalk would really have given the score line a distorted look for Bohs will entitled to reflect on the game by dwelling on their near misses when Andy Boyle showed exceptional anticipation and agility to clear a ball off the line, and then in the second half when Gary Rogers made three outstanding saves.
Had any of those chances been converted the outcome might have been different for they were all at a stage when Dundalk led 3-1.
The Rogers saves were crucial and showed that the veteran ‘keeper’s reflexes are as good as ever, for he had been under some pressure going into the game and looked a little hesitant in dealing with a few first half deliveries from frees and corners.
That hesitancy is not altogether the fault of the ‘keeper for lately, and especially in European matches, there has been a lack of organisation and authority in the manner in which they set their defensive structure to deal with set pieces.
It is an area that should be worked on before upcoming big games, but coach Filippo Giovangnoli did his job application no harm in the manner in which he outwitted one of the best and most experienced coaching teams, Keith Long and Trevor Croly by unexpectedly tweaking his formation.
Recent League results had invited some pressure on Dundalk’s coaching team, with the view recently expressed that they were out of their depth, showing worrying signs that their lack of knowledge about the League of Ireland was becoming a problem and their inability to get the best out of the players who, given their standing and experience, should never have been struggling for European qualification.
Friday’s result, and more importantly the performance, answered some of those critics, and also criticism of the players themselves who let themselves down in recent League games.
Against Bohs they found their motivation and whether the inspiration for that came from the knowledge that it was their last chance of winning silverware this season, or the desire on the part of some to show that they were worthy of new contracts, the outcome was mightily welcomed by supporters who have had a very frustrating Covid filled season.
The win, and the performance, should inspire the coaching staff and the players to realise that they have been given a second chance to make this a memorable season.