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■ Benson on target
Robbie Benson’s goal at the RSC on Friday night was his 36th in Dundalk colours, a figure which sees him move level with Terry Flanagan and former teammate, and Head of Football Operations, Brian Gartland. It was the 69th league goal of Benson’s career in total and just the eighth goal of the season for Dundalk’s number eight. It was his third career goal against Waterford. The previous two came in a 2-0 win for Dundalk at Oriel Park in May 2018 – a game Marco Tagbajumi also scored in – and in a 5-1 win for UCD at the UCD Bowl in August 2015. His strike on Friday also came eight years on from his first goals for Dundalk when he scored a double in a 7-0 win away to Finn Harps on May 13, 2016.
■ High’s everpresent run over
With Scott High missing out on the trip to the RSC through injury, Robbie Benson became the only Dundalk player to have started every league match so far this season. That run for Benson will also come to an end against Shamrock Rovers this Friday night as he picked up his fifth yellow card on the night and will be suspended for the visit of the champions to Oriel Park.
■ Gullan assist
Jamie Gullan grabbed his first assist in Dundalk colours when setting up Robbie Benson’s goal against Waterford on Friday night. The Scot had scored in his two previous away fixtures against Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United.
■ Asamoah’s hat-trick
Maleace Asamoah became the first opposition player to score a hat-trick against Dundalk in almost three years since former Lilywhite Georgie Kelly scored three in Bohemians’ 5-1 win over Jim Magilton’s side at Dalymount Park on May 24, 2021. The 21-yearold is the first to score a hat-trick for Waterford against Dundalk in a game since the Blues’ 5-1 win over the Lilywhites in Kilcohan Park in March 1973 when Alfie Hale scored three. Friday’s win for Keith Long’s side was their biggest over Dundalk since that night more than 51 years ago.
■ Early concession
Maleace Asamoah’s opener after just 97 seconds was the earliest goal Dundalk have conceded this season and the earliest they have conceded since July 2022 when Dean Williams scored after just 53 seconds of Drogheda United’s 1-0 win over Dundalk at the then named Head in the Game Park.
■ Elliott drought
Dundalk’s number 14 Cameron Elliott started his 14th game for the club against Waterford on Friday night. It was a year ago at the weekend – May 12, 2023 – since the Scot scored his one and only goal for the club in the 2-1 win over Cork City at Oriel Park. Elliott has now made 30 appearances without scoring since that night.
■ Munro’s return
Following George Shelvey’s 10-match suspension for racist comments made following the defeat to Drogheda United four days earlier, Ross Munro returned to the Dundalk starting XI in Waterford for what was his first appearance since the 4-1 defeat away to Derry City on April 5 – Stephen O’Donnell’s last match in charge. David Dunne was also the referee that night. Prior to joining Dundalk, Munro hadn’t started a league game since two years ago this week – May 14, 2022 – when he was in goal for Ross County’s end of season 2-1 defeat against Dundee United at Global Energy Stadium.
■ First win in three years
Waterford’s last league win over Dundalk prior to Friday night came almost three years ago in June 2021 when two John Martin goals either side of a goal from Shane Griffin cancelled out Patrick Hoban’s opener from the penalty spot as the Blues won 3-1 at Oriel Park. Dundalk haven’t won a league match at the RSC since April 2021 when goals from Andy Boyle, Chris Shields (penalty) and Michael Duffy earned a 3-0 win. Their last league defeat in the RSC prior to Friday was in October 2020 when future Lilywhite John Martin scored the game’s only goal on 57 minutes. In between those three, Waterford had beaten Dundalk 3-2 in an FAI Cup quarter-final tie at the RSC in September 2022.
■ Goal woes
The concession of four goals to Waterford on Friday night means that Dundalk now have the joint worst record for goals conceded in the Premier Division with their 23 against matching that of neighbours Drogheda Utd. Their tally of just eight scored is also the joint worst in the division with fifth-placed Galway United having scored the same amount.
■ Player landmarks
Daryl Horgan started his 120th league game for Dundalk against Waterford on Friday night. It was the former Republic of Ireland international’s first visit to the RSC since a 3-1 win there with Cork City in September 2011. It was also a 10th appearance for the club for Zak Johnson, who had made his first start against Waterford in the 0-0 draw at Oriel Park back in March, while Eoin Kenny also came off the bench to make his 10th senior appearance for the club.