Shels strike twice after the break to sink Lilywhites in Dublin

DUNDALK’S goal drought ended at Tolka Park on Friday night but, unfortunately, their wait for a first win of the season continued after going down to league leaders Shelbourne.

Despite a promising start to the game, Damien Duff’s side took charge at the start of the second half with Liam Burt instrumental to the outcome – scoring a brilliant solo opener before providing the cross which the unfortunate Hayden Muller put through his own net.

There was a small silver lining for the visiting support when Robbie Benson headed past Conor Kearns in stoppage time from John Mountney’s cross to end a run of 544 league minutes without a goal but it was a case of too little, too late despite penalty appeals after that when Ryan O’Kane went down in the box.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side had started the match well but an effort from Archie Davies, which Kearns had to gather at the second attempt was all they had to show for their endeavours really.

Both sides were sloppy in possession at times in the early stages and, while not at their best, Shels looked the more likely to capitalise. It was following a poor ball from Davies that they carved out their first chance on seven minutes when Burt set Seán Boyd away only for Zak Johnson to get back and make a fine block.

Ross Munro was then called into action for the first time four minutes later to save a deflected effort from Burt with Shels growing more into the game as the half progressed.

On 38 minutes, Burt slipped Boyd in on goal but he opted to square the ball rather than shoot, allowing Davies to get in ahead of Matty Smith and make a vital clearance.

The pressure from the home side continued on the restart with Munro having to push an effort away from JJ Lunney before the breakthrough goal arrived on 51 minutes.

Burt picked the ball up on half way before running at the Dundalk defence, which parted like the Red Sea, allowing him to get a shot away which flew past Munro to the net.

They then doubled their advantage on 74 minutes when Burt drove past Louie Annesley on the endline, with his cutback turned into his own net by Muller.

Shels had chances to kill the game after that with Evan Caffrey’s low drive turned around the post by Munro, who later denied John Martin in a one-on-one situation.

There was brief hope of a comeback when Benson nodded in in stoppage time but it was too little, too late. SHELBOURNE: Kearns; Gannon, Barrett, Molloy, Wilson; Lunney (Williams 83), Coyle; Burt (Martin 77), Smith (Caffrey 63), Jarvis (Ledwidge 83); Boyd (O’Sullivan 77).

DUNDALK: Munro; Davies, Johnson (Bradshaw 81), Annesley, Muller (Mountney 81); Oostenbrink (McGuckin 73), High; Horgan, Benson, Durrant (O’Kane 65); Elliott (Gullan 73).

REFEREE: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).