Dundalk aiming for rare Malone Cup win against neighbours Drogheda Utd

Dundalk will be hoping to win the Jim Malone Cup for only the third time in their history when they host neighbours Drogheda Utd at Oriel Park at 7.45pm tonight.

Since the competition was first played in October 1997, the Lilywhites have only won it twice – a 3-0 victory at United Park in August 2000 and a 2-1 victory on home soil in February 2010.

With no game played in 2011, it means that Drogheda have won the last three meetings between the sides in the competition.

Last year they won 5-4 on penalties for the second successive year after a 1-1 draw at United Park. Gavin Brennan had given the Boynesiders a first-half lead but a stoppage time header from Pat Hoban took the game to penalties only for Daryl Horgan to be denied by goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann in the shoot-out.

Incredibly, it was the eighth time that Dundalk had lost the Malone Cup on penalties.

Last season in the league Drogheda Utd ran out 4-1 winners against Dundalk on the opening day of the season at United Park only to be humbled 7-0 at Oriel Park in May. The sides then played out a 1-1 draw in Drogheda towards the end of the season.

Horgan, who has yet to feature in pre-season, could make a return to action from the bench tonight although Dane Massey is a doubt having suffered a hand injury last week. That will mean that Muirhevnamor man Shane Grimes should start against his former club, whom he captained last season.

Disastrous start for Dundalk as Drogheda inflict heavy opening day defeat

Dundalk’s Stephen O’Donnell tussles with Drogheda Utd’s Declan O’Brien last night

Dundalk’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division campaign could hardly have got off to a worse start as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat against neighbours Drogheda Utd in United Park last night.

Despite dominating in the early stages, Stephen Kenny’s side never took advantage with league debutant Daryl Horgan going closest on a couple of occasions, including with a cheeky chip attempt.

The visitors then took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Eric Foley curled a 35 yard free kick to the top left hand corner of the net, giving Peter Cherrie no chance.

With tensions rising two substitutes were sent off in the tunnel, reported to be Drogheda’s Philly Hughes and Dundalk’s Simon Kelly but if anything that incident only fired up the home side.

The Boynesiders hit the ground running in the second half with a deep cross from Michael Kelly being volleyed home at the back post by Gavin Brennan.

Daly then turned provider again when another cross was turned in by former Lilywhite Declan O’Brien.

Dundalk did give themselves some hope when they pulled a goal back just after the hour mark after Pat Hoban headed home substitute Darren Meenan’s cross.

However, almost immediately O’Brien put the result beyond doubt when he met Brennan’s in-swinging free kick with a diving header to make it 4-1.

That meant that by the time Drogheda captain Brennan was sent off for a tackle from behind on Stephen O’Donnell in the 87^th minute, it mattered little to the outcome.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Micheal Schlingermann (Dave Ryan 12); Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Paul Andrews, Shane Grimes; Daire Doyle, Eric Foley; Cathal Brady (Carl Walshe 73), Gary O’Neill, Gavin Brennan; Declan O’Brien (Austin McCann 90 +3). Subs not used: Paul Crowley, Gavan Holohan, Philly Hughes, Ciaran McGuigan.

DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon (John Mountney 79), Chris Shields, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ruaidhri Higgins (Darren Meenan 56); Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Daryl Horgan, Patrick Hoban, Kurtis Byrne (David McMillan 59). Subs not used: Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Gabriel Sava.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).

Dundalk suffer penalty heartbreak yet again in Malone Cup

Paddy Malone, son of the late Jim Malone, presents the Malone Cup to Drogheda after the game, alongside his nephew Cillian Moran

For the eighth time since the competition’s inception in 1997, Dundalk lost out to neighbours Drogheda United in the Jim Malone Cup on penalties.

Just like last year, the Boynesiders retained the competition after winning on spot kicks following a draw.

Last night’s match at United Park finished 1-1, before Drogheda went on to win 5-4 on penalties.

Gavin Brennan had given the home side the lead with a low drive past Peter Cherrie in the 21st minute. Despite plenty of pressure from Dundalk throughout, it looked like that would be enough to secure the win for the Drogs before Daryl Horgan popped up with a header in the 92nd minute to send the game to penalties.

In the end it was Michael Schlingerman who was the hero as he saved Daryl Horgan’s spot kick to ensure Dundalk have only won the competition twice in their history.

The two sides will meet again next month in the Airtricity Premier Division opener, also at United Park.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon (Simon Kelly 73), Dane Massey, Mark Rossiter, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields (Ruaidhri Higgins 61), Stephen O’Donnell, John Mountney (Richie Towell  61), Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (Patrick Hoban 61), David McMillan (Marc Griffin 73)