It’s for nights like these that we follow Dundalk

IT’S why we’re loyal followers of the Lilywhites for nights like this.

Through thick and thin we’re there, and at times like the events off the field in the last week, it is difficult not to get disheartened, disillusioned.

Then, against all the odds, our team pulls off a result like this, beating the champions. How sweet was that, not just the 1-0 win which resuscitates the prospect of avoiding relegation, but even better it was against arch rivals Shamrock Rovers, so ensuring that the sweet taste of victory lingered that much longer.

And we did it without a manager, one of two coaches in charge the previous week, without our joint top scorer, the suspended Robbie Benson, as well as the injured Scott High, Dara Keane, Koen Oostenbrink and Robbie Mahon, and with the club becoming the butt of ridicule in national media and social platforms over the almost comical nature of Noel King’s departure after just 27 days.

It was therefore with a deep sense of trepidation, laced with a determination not to let the side down in their hour of need, that supporters made their way to Oriel Park on Friday night, expecting the worst but hoping to avoid a humiliation.

It didn’t happen like that for one salient reason, the sheer determination of the players who, in adhering to the game plan devised by stand-in coach Liam Burns that made the best use of the limited resources at his disposal, nullified Rovers’ superior attacking qualities, and in so doing invigorated the crowd to provide levels of vocal support not experienced at the venue for a very long time.

Dispensing with their embarrassment at behind-the-scenes manoeuvres, and concerned for the future of their club both on and off the field, supporters quickly became engrossed in the game, won over by the resolve of the players who, like Scottie Scheffler at the PGA Championship on the same day, parked the distractions of the previous week and got on with the job of winning a football game.

They bought into the game plan, with the 5-3-2 formation, devised by Liam Burns, designed to contain Rovers’ attacking threat and hit them on the break, creating the better chances in the opening half.

And then, when they needed them most as Rovers emptied their bench with enhanced attacking quality, the crowd became a 12th man, encouraging the weary players to keep going, inspiring them for one last onslaught that yielded that magnificent winner from captain fantastic John Mountney.

It was a night that needs to be etched into the scrapbook of memorable nights at the old, neglected venue, for while Rovers were never at their best, lacking above all else the real intent of champions, it cannot be ignored that they came up against an inspired home team that never allowed them gain a sustained foothold in the game.

In some respects Rovers were undone by their own arrogance, for they were undoubtedly seduced by events at Dundalk during their week, and playing the team at the bottom of the table the Rovers players thought, and played, like they believed that they had only to turn up - late as it was because of a delay in the arrival of their kit - to collect all three points.

The makeshift team that Burns fielded was buttressed by the trio of the youthful enthusiasm of Mayowa Animasahun, the evergreen Andy Boyle and the outstanding qualities of Zak Johnson who formed an impregnable barrier in the middle of the defence, protecting their brittle keeper Ross Munro to the extent that he had to make just the one save of real note when, in the dying minutes of the game, he took pressure of his defenders when commanding his area to take a dangerous far post cross from Jack Byrne.

Flanking the impressive back trio, who Elliott matches the workrate of his Scottish partner.

In that first half the marauding Davies was a constant threat on Dundalk’s right flank, setting up an early shooting chance for Bradshaw that was blocked by Lopes, while the opening for a Doyle stinging shot that went narrowly wide was created by another Davies forage.

Perhaps the best chance of the half was created by a powerful Johnson surge that took him from well inside his own half, past passive defending and deep into the opposition half where he fed Horgan for a cut-back from the end line that the alert Lopes just managed to knock behind before Gullan.

It was Doyle again early in the second half who came nearest to breaking the deadlock with another blistering shot that whizzed past the upright, with Leon Pohls beaten, but the pattern of the game changed when Rovers introduced Neil Farrugia and Graham Burke after 66 minutes.

Immediately, Mountney, who always looked comfortable was exposed by Farrugia’s pace, and Burke always seemed capable of capitalising on the openings.

It was then, more than ever, that Dundalk needed the volume of support from the terraces to increase to fortify their defensive shield, and inspire the players to go in search of a winner.

If anything the goal, just before the end of normal time, typified Dundalk’s performance, because it was honed out of sheer determination, with substitute Hayden Muller, aided by Horgan, mugging Byrne in midfield to feed Gullan, who released the every-willing Davies to combine with Muller for an exchange of passes that created the space for the substitute to cross.

It didn’t look all that threatening of a cross, but perhaps another substitute, Sam Durrant, in attempting an ambitious overhead kick, distracted the Rovers defenders, as the ball ran across the box to the unmarked Mountney to compose himself and fire a difficult enough volley into the corner of the net well beyond Pohls.

It took some nervous injury-time minutes in which Dundalk defended a few needlessly conceded frees before the crowd could erupt with joyous relief, with most lingering longer at the finish to salute the win.

No doubt when the sweet taste of victory lingered no more, the thoughts of many supporters turned to the next move in the turbulent tenure of Brian Ainscough’s ownership of the club.

Many have been disturbed by the plethora of stories emanating from the club in the last few weeks, and although this isn’t unusual for any club, and particularly Dundalk, the changeable conduct of the owner has spooked supporters, who are starting to doubt if the finances are in place to bring the club forward.

They see their main rivals for honours, especially the Dublin clubs, progress with ambitious stadium plans, and there was no hiding the disappointment that the club missed out to St Patrick’s on Stephen Kenny’s return to the League.

There is of course still a manager/coach vacancy at Dundalk, and again there is no shortage of names being linked with the club, but supporters are concerned that experienced candidates may be deterred by the manner in which Noel King’s appointment was made.

It can’t be forgotten either that the club are in a dogfight to stay in the Premier Division, and cannot afford the situation to drift beyond this week, for while results did go their way on Friday, Dundalk are still the favourites to go down.

In the circumstances, with no obvious or outstanding candidate emerging, it might be prudent to appoint Burns to the end of the season with the knowledgeable and highly regarded Dave Mackey at his side, as he was on Friday night. That decision, if taken, could free up resources to sign a striker of proven scoring ability.

As the performance against Rovers underlined, the backbone of the squad is good enough to survive, and the players, in the commitment they gave in that game, are playing for the coach. But it will take more than commitment to escape the drop.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT MIGHT BE PRUDENT TO APPOINT LIAM BURNS TO THE END OF THE SEASON