DUN AND BUSTED
It’s zero points for Lilies but they emerge with a lot of credit after emptying tank in Arsenal loss
UNBURDENED and unshackled with the FAI Cup in their clutches, Dundalk treated this like the free shot it was and there was much to admire about their swagger.
Sean Hoare’s late headed goal complimented Jordan Flores’s first- half effort and was a fitting consolation even though Dundalk finished the campaign without a point.
Arsenal were out of the traps early - Andy Boyle’s attempted clearance was blocked down by Eddie Nketiah and he dinked Gary Rogers. Daniel Cleary was always fighting a losing battle trying to hook it off the line.
And it looked like curtains when the Gunners doubled their lead early.
Patrick Mceleney was scrambling to close down Mohamed Elneny and the Egyptian international unleashed a piledriver to the top corner.
Nicolas Pepe ought to have put the Premier League si de even further ahead but blazed over in a good position. It was the slap in the face Dundalk needed.
Surges over halfway were rare but Dundalk skated through sleepy cover a nd Ars e nal were i n a s pi n a s Michael Duffy and Flores traded a sweet one- two. And the Puskas award winner blast ed home past Runar Runarsson with a first- time shot and suddenly the prospect of banking their first points at the final time of asking was back on.
Arsenal still dominated possession and Gary Rogers thwarted Cedric and Ainsley MaitlandNiles with good saves.
Then Darragh Leahy almost equalised in first- half injury- time.
David Mcmillan couldn’t get his head on Mceleney ’s precision cross and Leahy, lurking behind him, couldn’t gather his composure quick enough to capitalise on the chaos in the box. Giovagnoli’s side were not fazed aft er t he re st ar t as they brought the fight to their rivals.
Arsenal kept probi ng though and the pinball wizardry rarely relented with Joe Will o c k baggi ng t h e i r third on 67 minutes and sub Folarin Balogun netting a fourth with 10 minutes to go.
But Hoare still had time for the final say on Dundalk’s madcap season.
TONY TONY BANKS
ON THE BOARD.. Sean Hoare leads the celebrations for Dundalk
HE’S SEAN CLOUD NINE Sean Hoare has the final say as Dundalk went down 4- 2 to Arsenal
last night