Win at all costs for Dundalk this Friday

Dundalk must beat Cork City in their title deciding end of season fixture at Oriel Park last night if they are to claim the Premier Division title.

Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds, coupled with the Rebels’ 1-0 win at home to Bohemians, means it is win at all costs for Stephen Kenny’s side this week.

Rain and wind battered the seaside venue before kick-off making this game a real lottery and a difficult task was made that much harder when former Lilywhite David Cassidy fired the home side in front inside the opening 30 seconds.

Dundalk did their best to get back in the game but goalkeeper Stephen McGuinness was in fine form to deny both Daryl Horgan and Darren Meenan before the break.

Pat Hoban did manage to pull a goal back shortly after the hour mark when he swept home a cross from Meenan but the visitors struggled to get the ball forward after that in the difficult conditions with Bray looking the more likely winners in the end.

That means Dundalk were knocked off the summit for the first time since early May and makes Friday’s home tie with Cork a must win.

Bray Wanderers: Stephen McGuinness; Eric McGill, David Webster (capt), Niall Cooney, Michael Barker; Jake Kelly (Philly Hughes, 89’), Owen Rossi, Graham Kelly, Dean Zambra, Adam Hanlon; David Cassidy; David Scully. Subs not used: Gavin Sheridan, Ryan Swan, Shane O’Connor, Gareth McDonagh, Robert Maloney.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon (Stephen O’Donnell, 62’), Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle (capt), Dane Massey; Chris Shields (Donal McDermott, 88’), Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne (John Mountney, 45’), Daryl Horgan; Pat Hoban. Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Ruaidhri Higgins, Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter.

Referee: Dave McKeon

Dundalk cruise to victory in Tommy McConville Memorial Match

Thomas McConville Jr, son of the late Tommy McConville, accepts a presentation from the PFAI’s Stephen McGuinness at Oriel Park last night

Dundalk FC continued their preparations for the new campaign with a comfortable 6-0 win over a local selection in the Tommy McConville Memorial Match at Oriel Park last night.

Before the game the PFAI’s Stephen McGuinness – a former Lilywhite – made a presentation to the McConville family honouring Tommy’s contribution to the league over several decades.

All proceeds from the game went to the North Louth Hospice with Bill Elliott, Tony O’Kane and friends paying a remarkable €440 for a portrait of Tommy by local artist Michael Duffy.

On the field it was largely one way traffic.

Dundalk took the lead in the 15^th minute when Kurtis Byrne volleyed past Padraig Gorham.

The second goal then arrived in the 33^rd minute with local lad Simon Kelly volleying home after getting on the end of a superb cross from Darren Meenan to make it 2-0.

That’s how it remained at half-time with the third goal arriving just after the hour mark when anotehr local – Marc Griffin – made it three with a superb chip over goalkeeper Robert Arthur.

Substitute Richie Towell then made it 4-0 in the 75^th minute after slotting home a penalty following a foul on David McMillan.

Meehan then added a fifth three minutes later after getting on the end of a superb cross from Sean Gannon.

Last season’s leading scorer Pat Hoban then added a sixth with the last kick of the game to complete a comfortable win for the hosts.

There was also a late appearance from 16-year-old Irish U-17 international Georgie Poynton, who yesterday signed pro terms with the club ahead of the new season.

Dundalk FC: Cherrie (Sava), Gannon, Gartland, Mountney (Towell), Byrne (Hoban), Rossiter (O’Connor), Kelly, Meenan, Higgins (O’Donnell), Horgan (McMillan), Griffin (Poynton).

Tommy McConville XI: Gorham (Arthur), McCartney, Hutchinson, O’Kane, O’Callaghan, McArdle (Duffy), Fisher, Lynch, Smith, Clarke (Ward), McSorley.

Dundalk 2002 Cup winners prepare for friendly with Celtic Legends

All but two of the 13 players that featured for Dundalk in the 2002 FAI Cup final win over Bohemians have been confirmed to take part in a fundraising match against a Celtic Legends side at Oriel Park on Saturday June 22^nd.

The central midfield pairing of that famous April day, John Flanagan and Ciarán Kavanagh, are the only absentees expected, with the other nine starters all set to return to Oriel 11 years on.

Martin Murray will also return to manage a squad that includes: John Connolly, Justin O’Neill, David Crawley, John Whyte, Stephen McGuinness, Donal Broughan
Aaron Callaghan, David Hoey, Noel Melvin, James Keddy, Chris Lawless, Garry Haylock, Martin Reilly, Cormac Malone, Cormac McArdle.

Amongst the Celtic legends lined up to play are Pierre van Hooijdonk, Tom Boyd, Alan Stubbs, Bobby Petta, Regi Blinker and Tommy Johnson.

Tickets for the game are €10 for adults and €5 for kids. There will also be a banquet afterwards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, priced at €50.