Dundalk goalkeeper Cherrie picked to appear in O’Neill fundraising calendar

Dundalk goalkeeper Peter Cherrie will be amongst a number of Airtricity League players taking part in a photoshoot at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow for a fundraising calendar in aid of Drogheda’s Gary O’Neill, who was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer.

Amongst the other League of Ireland players to take part are Bohemians’ Luke Byrne, Bray Wanderers’ Daire Doyle, Cork City’s Gearóid Morrissey, Derry City’s Barry Molloy, Drogheda United’s Paul O’Conor, Limerick’s Stephen Folan, St Patrick’s Athletic’s Jake Kelly, Shamrock Rovers’ James Chambers, Shelbourne’s Graham Gartland, Sligo Rovers’ Raffaele Cretaro and UCD’s Michael Leahy.

The fundraiser is being organised by the PFAI.

Dundalk famously made a Calendar Girls-themed calendar back in 2004, featuring semi-naked players. Cherrie’s shoot is unlikely to earn him the same publicity that then goalkeeper Chris Bennion got but it is for an equally good cause.

Dundalk cruise past Shelbourne to book place in last four of FAI Cup

Richie Towell’s first half double helped Dundalk into the semi-finals of the FAI Cup for the second successive season

Dundalk comfortably booked their place in the FAI Ford Cup semi-finals after thumping Shelbourne 5-1 at Tolka Park last night.

Stephen Kenny’s side effectively had the game wrapped up at half-time, when they led 5-0, giving the Lilywhites the chance to rest a few key players with one eye on next Friday’s top of the table clash with St Patrick’s Athletic.

The visitors opened the scoring on 13 minutes with Richie Towell curling the ball to the top corner of the net after a neat one-two with John Dillon.

Within five minutes, Dundalk had doubled their advantage with Andy Boyle heading home a Darren Meenan corner.

It was then 3-0 on 33 minutes with Patrick Hoban drilling home after an attack from Towell had broken down.

A minute before half-time, it was four with Kurtis Byrne scoring the goal of the game with an audacious chip from the halfway line.

Towell then added a fifth in first half stoppage time with a bullet header from John Sullivan’s right wing cross.

Shels did manage to pull a goal back five minutes after the restart through Lee Murtagh but it was little consolation as they joined Shamrock Rovers in the last four with Sligo Rovers still to face Derry City and Drogheda United set to face Finn Harps in a replay on Monday following a 1-1 draw in Ballybofey last night.

The cup semi-finals will take place on Sunday October 6^th and will be broadcast live on RTÉ.

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon; Brian Gannon, Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland, Pat Flynn; Adam Hanlon, Glenn Cronin, Robert Bayly (Stephen Sheerin 72), Sean Brennan; Dean Kelly (Darren Tinnelly 72), Lee Murtagh (Carl Walshe 88).

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Mark Rossiter; John Dillon, Richie Towell (John Mountney h/t), Chris Shields Darren Meenan; Kurtis Byrne (Jordan Keegan 82), Pat Hoban (Vinny Faherty 71).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Early goals keep Dundalk’s title challenge on track

Andy Boyle celebrates his early goal against Shelbourne

Dundalk kept up the pressure on league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic with a 2-1 win away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night.

The club’s ninth away win of the season, which came about courtesy of early goals from centre half pairing Andy Boyle and Brian Gartland – keeps Stephen Kenny’s side a point behind the pacesetters, who have a game in hand still to play.

There was just 72 seconds on the watch when Dundalk hit the front as Boyle headed home Darren Meenan’s goal for what was almost a carbon copy of Pat Hoban’s second against Shamrock Rovers the previous week.

John Dillon then had a penalty saved by Lee Murphy in the fifth minute after Graham Gartland had pulled down Stephen O’Donnell in the area but the Lilywhites didn’t have to wait long for a second goal as they doubled their advantage on 13 minutes.

Another Meenan corner was not dealt with by the Shels defence, with Gartland left unmarked to power a header to the net.

Dundalk had chances to put the game to bed after that but their failure to take them meant that Shelbourne always had hope of getting back into the game.

They had penalty appeals turned away on 57 minutes after Gartland was accused of handling a shot from Sean Brennan inside the box, with Brennan then going close to pulling a goal back twice in quick succession.

The Drumcondra outfit did pull a goal back 17 minutes from time when Gartland swept the ball home from 16 yards after Dundalk failed to clear a corner from Brennan but thankfully the visitors managed to see the game out to keep their title charge on track.

Shelbourne: Lee Murphy; Pat Flynn (Darren Tinnelly, 83), Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland, Derek Doyle; Sean Brennan, Glenn Cronin, Stephen Hurley (Brian Gannon, 70), Adam Hanlon; Lee Murtagh (Robert Cornwall, h/t), Dean Kelly.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields: John Dillon (Jordan Keegan, 74), Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell, Meenan (Dane Massey, 85); PatrickHoban, Kurtis Byrne (Francis McCaffrey,68).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare).