Sava re-signs with Dundalk

Dundalk FC have announced that Gabriel Sava has penned a new deal with the club for the 2015 season.

The goalkeeper joined the Lilywhites ahead of the 2014 campaign from neighbours Drogheda Utd after a successful two year spell at the club. Before that he lined out for Bray Wanderers and Monaghan United.

While largely second fiddle to Peter Cherrie last season, he still picked up a league winners medal and a second EA Sports Cup medal in September having started the final against Shamrock Rovers. He was also between the sticks at the Stadion Poljud when Stephen Kenny’s men went to Hajduk Split and won 2-1 with the Italian native a key part of the performance.

The 28 year-old is now likely to compete with new signing Gary Rogers for the number one jersey next season.

Dundalk bow out of Europe with their heads held high

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).