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.

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)