12-Jul-2008

County push Dundalk all the way

Kildare County 1 Dundalk 2

Dundalk moved back to the top of the Eircom League First Division with a win over ten man Kildare County at Station Road last night.

John Ryan made changes from last weeks dismal performance against Limerick bringing in John Brophy, Craig Mooney and Ger Robinson for the injured Willie Tyrell, Cathal Brady and Philly Gorman.

On the bench for their first appearance in the white jersey were Gegg Kilkenny and Eoin Powderly.

The first half was largely a quiet affair notable only for Dundalk having to make two substitutions through injury with skipper Aidan Lynch and Robbie Martin both forced off and Paul Shiels receiving only a yellow card for a horrendous tackle on young Mooney.

After the tedium of the first half, it took just 31 seconds for the second half to come to life. Trevor Vaughan’s ball inside Baba Isaaka put Jamie Duffy in the clear. The former Shamrock Rovers winger still had plenty to do but he brilliantly beat Austin O’Neill with a delicate chip.

Dundalk then spurned numerous chances to increase their lead with Trevor Vaughhan, David Cassidy and Tiernan Mulvenna all going close.

Kildare’s chances of getting anything from the game were dramatically reduced on the hour when their captain Paul Donnelly was shown a red card for a professional foul on Tieran Mulvenna , pulling back the Dundalk man as the striker headed for goal.

The dismissal forced John Ryan to make changes as he brought Gregg Kilkenny on for his debut replacing Barry Slattery with Ger Robinson remaining up front on his own

Paul Crowley seemed to have secured the win for Dundalk when he scrambled the ball home from close range just 30 seconds after coming on as a substitute following Dave Crawley’s corner.

That should have been it for Dundalk but Colin Murray, son of Martin who managed Dundalk to a FAI Cup victory in 2002, headed home at the back post after 76 minutes but it wasn’t enough for Kildare.

After 80 minutes Eoin Powderly (pictured) became County’s youngest ever player at 17 years 10 days when he replaced Baba Issaka in the County defence.

Kildare County: O’Neill; Murray, Brophy, Donnelly, Isaaka (Powderly 80); Mooney, Kavanagh (Morgan 76), Fortune, Slattery (Kilkenny 60); Kilduff, Robinson.

Dundalk: Bennion; Flanagan, Lynch (Marney 6), Ryan, Crawley; Duffy, Shiels Cassidy, Smyth (Crowley75); Martin (Vaughan 39), Mulvenna.

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).

For highlights click on link below.

 

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