11-Nov-2007

Three goals not enough

Dundalk 4  Kildare County 3

Dundalk hit three second half goals to secure a 4-3 win over Kildare County in Oriel Park tonight as the Lilywhites salvaged some confidence ahead of next Friday's eircom League of Ireland First division promotion play-off.

The home side could not have asked for a better start as they took the lead inside the first ten minutes.

David Crawley's free-kick near the corner flag was whipped in with menace and Cormac McArdle ghosted in through a forest of bodies to side-foot the ball home from six yards.

However, the cheers were still ringing around Oriel Park when Kildare equalised just eight minutes later. Philip Gorman slipped the ball through the heart of the Lilywhites' defence and Ger Robinson finished confidently from just inside the area.

John Gill's men were beginning to look jittery and on 22 minutes the Dundalk defence parted like the Red Sea and Barry Clancy waltzed through before hammering a shot past Chris Bennion from 20 yards.

The home side's woes continued just before the break when Robinson pounced to tap home his second from an Alan Byrne knock-down. This brings Robinsons tally to seven in his six games for County this season. 

Dundalk threatened a come back after the hour when a teasing cross by McArdle was diverted into his own net by substitute Philip Byrne.

Remarkably, Dundalk levelled on 74 minutes when Trevor Vaughan - who will miss the promotion play-off semi-final with Finn Harps through suspension - smashed home from 20 yards.

Then James Hand who had just come on the pitch smashed a 30 yard shot past Cassidy to secure a thrilling win for the home side on the stroke of full time.

Dundalk: Bennion, R Dunne, Lynch, Crawley, Grimes, K Dunne (Mulvenna, 58 mins), Marney, Williams, McArdle (Vaughan, 65), Smyth, Doyle (Hand, 84).

Kildare County: Cassidy, Kavanagh, Malone (P Byrne, h-t), A Byrne, Clancy (McArdle, 70 mins), Carew, McCrossan (Hayes, 84), Brady, Stapleton, Gorman, Robinson.

Referee: N Doyle.

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