Dundalk bowed out of Europe with their heads held high last night after claiming a famous 2-1 victory over Hajduk Split in Croatia, only to lose out 3-2 on aggregate.
Trailing 2-0 from the first leg, Stephen Kenny’s side were another goal away from advancing after coming from behind at the Stadion Poljud in the second half to set up a tense finale.
The home side took the lead on 25 minutes when Sandro Gotal played in Ivorian winger Jean Evrad Kouassi, who beat the Dundalk defence and then slotted the ball past goalkeeper Gabriel Sava.
That strike made a hard task even more difficult but Dundalk refused to throw in the towel and gave themselves hope of a stunning comeback when substitute Pat Hoban pulled a goal back on 66 minutes after rounding goalkeeper Dante Stipica to finish.
Fellow substitute Kurtis Byrne added a second for the Louth men 16 minutes from time when he met Chris Shields’ cross to set up a nervy finish for Hajduk.
However, despite the Lilywhites throwing men forward to find the goal that would send them through, the Croats held out to set up a third qualifying round tie with Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan.
Hajduk Split: Stipica; Nizic, Milovic, Maloca, Jozinovic; Caktas (Bradaric HT), Vlasic (Maloku 76 ), Andelkovic; Kouassi (Maglica 62), Gotal, Jozinovic
Dundalk: Sava; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Shields, Higgins (Meenan 87); Mountney, Towell, McDermott (Hoban 57); McMillan (Byrne 68).
Referee: Ionut Maruis Avram (Romania).
Talk of the Town 