Dundalk U19s and U17s both at home at start of league campaigns

The fixture lists for the SSE Airtricity under 19 and under 17 leagues were released today.

Dundalk U-19s are in section three alongside Derry City, Finn Harps, Letterkenny Rovers, Sligo Rovers and Drogheda Utd.

They will kick-off their campaign at home to Derry City on Sunday September 6^th.

Meanwhile the U-17s are also in section three alongside Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Derry City, Shelbourne, Bohemians and Monaghan Utd-Cavan FP side managed by former Lilywhites boss Sean McCaffrey.

Dundalk have no fixture on week one, August 9^th, so will kick-off their campaign at home to Finn Harps on Sunday August 16^th.

You can view the full fixtures here.

Meanwhile, former Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban has been given the number 9 shirt for Oxford Utd ahead of the 2015/2016 campaign. The Galway man, who top scored for the Lilywhites with 20 league goals last season, joined the League One side before Christmas having helped Dundalk to the league title last season.

Towell in line to feature on FIFA 15 cover

Last year’s FIFA cover featured Dundalk’s Patrick Hoban and Limerick’s Shane Tracy. Richie Towell is hoping to secure the votes to appear on this year’s cover

Dundalk FC’s Richie Towell is in the running to appear on the front cover of the EA Sports’ FIFA 15 game.

The midfielder is up against players from the 11 other Premier Division clubs, with two slots up for grabs. The winners – who will join Barcelona’s Lionel Messi on the cover – will be announced on Wednesday 24th of September.

Towell has been a revelation for the Lilywhites since he arrived into the League of Ireland and has scored 13 goals so far this season as Stephen Kenny’s side sit at the top of the League table.

To vote, click here and find Richie on the list, select him, then click ‘VOTE’ at the bottom of the page.

Last year’s cover featured Dundalk’s Patrick Hoban and Limerick’s Shane Tracy.

Source: Dundalkfc.com

Dundalk thump Sligo to strengthen position at the top of the table

Dundalk gained revenge for their Setanta Cup final defeat earlier this month by thumping Sligo Rovers 3-0 at Oriel Park last night to strengthen their position at the top of the table.

Following on right from where they left off on Tuesday night when they hammered neighbours Drogheda Utd 7-0, Stephen Kenny’s side took the game to their opponents from the off with goalkeeper Gary Rogers forced into a number of fine stops early on to deny Daryl Horgan on two occasions.

Rogers was finally beaten by the former Cork City winger on the quarter hour mark but Evan McMillan was on hand to clear off the line.

Horgan would have the last laugh, however, as he opened the scoring on 23 minutes by drilling low to the net from 25 yards after picking the ball up on the left.

Rogers made another fine stop moments later to deny Sean Gannon a second but the Lilywhites did manage to double their lead within three minutes of the restart with Kurtis Byrne curling an effort to the bottom left hand corner.

Leading scorer Patrick Hoban then put the icing on the cake on the hour mark when he finished from close range after Byrne’s effort had been turned onto the post by Rogers.

Dundalk: Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Meenan, Shields, Towell, Horgan (Higgins 69); Byrne (Griffin 89); Hoban (McMillan 80). Subs not used: Ward, Rossiter, Kelly, Sava.

Sligo Rovers: Rogers; Henderson, Spillane, McMillan (Conneely 73), Gaynor; Cawley; Russell, O’Conor (Maguire 84), Greene, Ledwith (Odhiambo, HT); North. Subs not used: Loftus, Donelon, Brush.

Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).

 

Controversial late Towell penalty earns Dundalk narrow win over Athlone Town

A controversial stoppage-time penalty from Richie Towell earned Dundalk a 1-0 victory against Athlone Town at Lissywoollen yesterday evening.

It looked for long stretches of the game as if the hosts were going to pick up their first points since being promoted, but referee Graham Kelly deemed that Declan Brennan impeded Darren Meenan and Towell made no mistake with his spot-kick in the third minute of added time.

Seán Byrne was dismissed for dissent immediately after the decision to compound Athlone’s misery as Dundalk recorded their sixth league win of the season.

Kelly left the field to a round of boos from the home supporters after his sending off decision, while Dundalk too felt aggrieved that Darren Meenan had earlier been hauled back by Declan Brennan only for play to be waved on.

At the end of a low-quality encounter, where scoring chances were rare and those that were created were wasted, it looked as if Athlone had done enough to secure the first league point of the new campaign in their ninth attempt.

Despite playing without their three first-choice centre-backs and their regular goalkeeper due to injury and suspension, they defended manfully and certainly wouldn’t have been flattered if the game ended in a stalemate.

Athlone’s James O’Brien blasted the ball into the side-netting from 12 yards out in the first minute, while Philip Gorman saw his curling effort midway through the second half loop narrowly wide. Dundalk netminder Peter Cherrie was also forced into an unorthodox save from Seán Byrne late on.

Towell, Meenan and Patrick Hoban all had opportunities to test Craig Sexton in the Athlone goal but spurned their chances. Ruiadhrí Higgins did manage to direct his 25-yard free on target but Sexton easily smothered the tame effort.

Long balls over the top were the primary source of these half-chances and Dundalk rarely looked like title challengers.

James O’Brien and Meenan were the main creative influences but both teams struggled to get sufficient support for their solitary strikers and failed to pick holes in their opponents’ defensive alignments.

Kelly’s decision not to award a penalty for the pull on Byrne’s jersey in the 76th minute drew plenty of ire from the sizable body of away supporters in the ground, but old cliche about contentious decisions evening themselves out certainly was rendered apt when Kelly pointed to the spot in the final minute of injury-time for what looked like legal and minimal contact between Brennan and Meenan.

Athlone’s disbelief at the decision was obvious as their players crowded around the arbiter, which in turn resulted in Byrne being sent off on a straight red card for dissent.

In the final decisive act of the game, Towell struck an immaculate penalty low to the bottom corner of the Athlone Town net, a strike that brought Dundalk back level with Cork City and broke the hearts of the home side.

Athlone Town: Craig Sexton; Stephen Quigley (Ian Sweeney 86), Conor McMahon, Declan Brennan, Barry Clancy; Mark Hughes; Kealon Dillon, Seán Byrne, James O’Brien, Sean Brennan (Jason Marks 73); Philip Gorman.

Subs not used: Graham Rusk.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Seán Gannon, Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ruaidhrí Higgins; Darren Meenan, John Mountney (David McMillan 60), Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan (Kurtis Byrne HT); Patrick Hoban (Mark Griffin 82).

Subs not used:  Brian Gartland, Chris Shields, Simon Kelly, Gabriel Sava (GK).

Referee: Graham Kelly

Source: RTÉ Sport

Dundalk go top after victory over UCD

Dundalk moved top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table with a 4-1 win away to UCD at the UCD Bowl in Dublin.

With Cork City being held at home to Sligo Rovers and both Drogheda Utd and Shamrock Rovers losing their respective games, the result meant that Stephen Kenny’s side go two points clear.

Dundalk had to come from behind to claim the win, however, after the Students took the lead through Gary Burke on 23 minutes.

Patrick Hoban ensured the sides went off level at the break though as he glanced home a Daryl Horgan cross two minutes before half-time to leave it 1-1 at the interval.

Captain Stephen O’Donnell then put his side ahead in the 58^th minute after racing on to Hoban’s knockdown and in less than two minutes the game was effectively over as a contest when a game of ping-pong inside the six yard box resulted in the ball cannoning off Mark Langtry and into his own net for an own goal.

Things then went from bad to worse for the home side when Hugh Douglas was shown a straight red card on 75 minutes after hauling down Hoban as he raced through on goal.

Hoban would have the last laugh, however, as he turned home David McMillan’s cross four minutes from the end to complete a fine win for the Lilywhites.

UCD: Conor O’Donnell; Gareth Matthews, Hugh Douglas, Tomas Boyle, Mark Langtry; Samir Belhout, Robert Benson, Gary Burke, Robbie Creevy, Chris Mulhall (Thomas O’Halloran, 80); Cillian Morrison (James Kavanagh, 81).

DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie, Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Mark Rossiter, Dane Massey; Kurtis Byrne (David McMillan, 84), Chris Shields, Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell (Ruaidhri Higgins, 68), Daryl Horgan (Darren Meenan, 79); Patrick Hoban.

Referee: Robert Rogers (Dublin).

 

Towell double puts Dundalk in driving seat for Setanta Cup final place

Dundalk took a huge step towards claiming a spot in this season’s Setanta Cup final after taking a 2-1 lead away from Tallaght Stadium against Shamrock Rovers last night.

Two first half penalties from Richie Towell put the Lilywhites in the driving seat and while Eamon Zayed’s late goal ensured that the tie is still very much alive, Dundalk can be pleased with the win, which came just two days after their victory over Sligo Rovers in the league on Saturday night.

The breakthrough came in the 11^th minute, with Towell slotting home a penalty after John Mountney had been upended by Rovers goalkeeper Craig Hyland, who was perhaps fortunate not to be sent-off for his challenge.

Mountney then won his side a second penalty just after the half hour mark when he was taken down by Rovers captain Conor Kenna. Once again Towell dispatched the spot kick to leave Dundalk seemingly cruising.

Stephen Kenny’s side had chances to add to that advantage in the second half with David McMillan, Dane Massey and Patrick Hoban all going close.

However, as they tired late on Rovers clinched what could prove a crucial goal as Zayed turned in a cross from Gary McCabe to leave the game very much in the balance ahead of the second leg at Oriel Park in a couple of weeks time.

Shamrock Rovers: Craig Hyland; Simon Madden, Robert Cornwall, Conor Kenna, Luke Byrne; Dean Kelly (Ronan Finn h/t), Shane Robinson (Ryan Brennan 83), Robert Bayly, Sean O’Connor; Karl Sheppard (Gary McCabe 58), Eamon Zayed.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Chris Shields; John Mountney (Darren Meenan 80), Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell (Ruaidhri Higgins 52), Kurtis Byrne; David McMillan (Patrick Hoban 67).

Referee: Paul Tuite (Dublin).

Dundalk come from behind to see off Limerick

Dundalk got their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division up and running after coming from behind to beat Limerick FC 2-1 at Oriel Park last night.

Kurtis Byrne came to the home side’s rescue after climbing off the bench to grab a 77^th minute winner to earn Stephen Kenny’s side their first win of the campaign.

After going down 4-1 to neighbours Drogheda Utd the previous week, the Lilywhites made the worst possible start when goalkeeper Peter Cherrie fumbled a Shane Tracy free into his net in the 14^th minute.

A Patrick Hoban header four minutes before the break got them back on level terms, however, before Byrne grabbed a late winner – heading into an empty net after Hoban’s initial strike had been saved by the legs of Shane Cusack.

Next up for Dundalk is a trip to The Showgrounds to take on Sligo Rovers on Saturday.

Dundalk: Cherrie; Rossiter (Gannon 64 mins), Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Meenan, Towell, O’Donnell, Horgan (Mountney 89 mins); McMillan (Byrne 70 mins), Hoban.

Limerick FC: Cusack; Kelly, Whitehead, Folan, Costelloe; Tracy, Nzuzi (Ayemang 82 mins), McGrath (Feeney 83 mins), Hughes, Coughlan (Rainsford 54 mins); Gaffney.

Referee: P McLaughlin (Monaghan).

Dundalk players named in team of the year as Hoban and Towell tussle it out for Player of the Year gong

Dundalk’s Pat Hoban

Three Dundalk players have been named in the PFAI’s Premier Division Team of the Year.

Defender Andy Boyle, midfielder Richie Towell and striker Pat Hoban have all been included in the team, which is selected by players within the league.

Towell and Hoban have both won the SWAI Player of the Month award this season, while Boyle – who signed a new contract at Oriel Park yesterday – has been an ever-present for Stephen Kenny’s side this season.

Meanwhile, Towell and Hoban have been shortlisted for the Player of the Year award along with Greg Bolger and Killian Brennan of champions St Patrick’s Athletic. The duo are also in contention for the Young Player of the Year award, along with Cork City’s Daryl Horgan.

The team of the year is as follows: Brendan Clarke (St Patrick’s Athletic); Ger O’Brien (St Patrick’s Athletic), Kenny Browne (St Patrick’s Athletic), Andy Boyle (Dundalk), Ian Bermingham (St Patrick’s Athletic); Killian Brennan (St Patrick’s Athletic), Greg Bolger (St Patrick’s Athletic), Daryl Horgan (Cork City), Richie Towell (Dundalk); Patrick Hoban (Dundalk), Rory Patterson (Dundalk).

The awards will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (formerly The Burlington) in Dublin on Friday November 8th.

Related articles

• Dundalk striker Hoban to appear on cover of FIFA 14 (talkofthetown.ie)
• Dundalk’s Towell named Player of the Month for August (talkofthetown.ie)

Dundalk striker Hoban in the running to appear on cover of FIFA 14

Patrick Hoban

Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban is in the running to appear on the front cover of EA Sports’ FIFA 14 game.

The Galway native has been a revelation for the Lilywhites this season with 11 league goals as Stephen Kenny’s side continue to push for the title.

He is now up against the likes of Bohemians’ Luke Byrne, Bray’s Jason Byrne, Cork City’s Daryl Horgan, Derry City’s Rory Patterson, Drogheda’s Declan O’Brien, Limerick’s Shane Treacy, Shamrock Rovers’ Ronan Finn, Shelbourne’s Glen Cronin, Sligo Rovers’ Rafael Cretaro, St Pat’s Killian Brennan and UCD’s Craig Walsh for one of the two coveted spots on the front cover, alongside Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

To vote for Hoban visit the extratime.ie voting page. The two winning players will be announced on Monday September 16^th with the cover available for download via easportsfootball.com from Friday September 27^th.

Last year’s cover featured former Lilywhite Mark Quigley – then of Sligo Rovers – and Cork City’s Davin O’Neill.

You can vote here.

Last year’s front cover featuring former Lilywhite Mark Quigley and Cork’s Davin O’Neill

Hoban confident of title success

Dundalk travel to Tolka Park this evening to face Shelbourne, with leading scorer Patrick Hoban confident that the Oriel Park outfit can continue their push towards the title.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin yesterday after being named the SWAI Player of the Month for July, the Galway native said: “I always say ‘what’s the point of finishing second’. I always aim as high as possible. There is a belief there and I don’t see why not.

“We’re one point off St. Pat’s, though they’ve a game in hand. Sure, anything can happen.”

Kick-off at Tolka Park is at 7.45pm.