McDonnell signs for Shelbourne

Stephen McDonnell

Local footballer Stephen McDonnell last night signed a contract with Shelbourne for next season.

The former Quay Celtic and Glasgow Celtic midfielder has played for Dundalk FC for since March 2010 and will be best remembered by Lilywhites’ supporters for scoring a crucial late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Waterford United in the first leg of the 2012 promotion/relegation play-off.

McDonnell’s role was limited with Dundalk this season as he made just 11 league appearances and the 21-year-old will be hoping to reignite his career with a move to Tolka Park.

Commenting on his Twitter page, McDonnell said he was “delighted” to have signed with Shelbourne and said he was targeting an instant return to the Premier Division following their relegation last season.

He also thanked Dundalk FC for the last four years.

Dundalk face neighbours Drogheda in FAI Cup semi-finals

Dundalk face an away trip to face neighbours Drogheda United in the FAI Cup semi-finals.

The Lilywhites were drawn with their Louth rivals in last night’s draw, with the Boynesiders securing a local tie after overcoming Finn Harps 2-0 in a quarter-final replay at Hunky Dory Park last night.

The Drogs will now host Dundalk on Sunday October 6th with a place in the final up for grabs against either Sligo Rovers or Shamrock Rovers

Dundalk cruise past Shelbourne to book place in last four of FAI Cup

Richie Towell’s first half double helped Dundalk into the semi-finals of the FAI Cup for the second successive season

Dundalk comfortably booked their place in the FAI Ford Cup semi-finals after thumping Shelbourne 5-1 at Tolka Park last night.

Stephen Kenny’s side effectively had the game wrapped up at half-time, when they led 5-0, giving the Lilywhites the chance to rest a few key players with one eye on next Friday’s top of the table clash with St Patrick’s Athletic.

The visitors opened the scoring on 13 minutes with Richie Towell curling the ball to the top corner of the net after a neat one-two with John Dillon.

Within five minutes, Dundalk had doubled their advantage with Andy Boyle heading home a Darren Meenan corner.

It was then 3-0 on 33 minutes with Patrick Hoban drilling home after an attack from Towell had broken down.

A minute before half-time, it was four with Kurtis Byrne scoring the goal of the game with an audacious chip from the halfway line.

Towell then added a fifth in first half stoppage time with a bullet header from John Sullivan’s right wing cross.

Shels did manage to pull a goal back five minutes after the restart through Lee Murtagh but it was little consolation as they joined Shamrock Rovers in the last four with Sligo Rovers still to face Derry City and Drogheda United set to face Finn Harps in a replay on Monday following a 1-1 draw in Ballybofey last night.

The cup semi-finals will take place on Sunday October 6^th and will be broadcast live on RTÉ.

Shelbourne: Niall Burdon; Brian Gannon, Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland, Pat Flynn; Adam Hanlon, Glenn Cronin, Robert Bayly (Stephen Sheerin 72), Sean Brennan; Dean Kelly (Darren Tinnelly 72), Lee Murtagh (Carl Walshe 88).

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Mark Rossiter; John Dillon, Richie Towell (John Mountney h/t), Chris Shields Darren Meenan; Kurtis Byrne (Jordan Keegan 82), Pat Hoban (Vinny Faherty 71).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Dundalk aiming to keep double dream on track against Shelbourne tonight

 

Dundalk’s title ambitions take a back seat tonight when they travel to Tolka Park to take on Shelbourne in the FAI Ford Cup quarter-finals.

The dream of a double is still very much on though and the Lilywhites will be hoping to repeat their 2-1 win over the Drumcondra men from last month to book a place in the last four.

Stephen Kenny’s side can still be backed at around 5/1 to win their first cup since 2002 and are the form team in the league at present.

Dundalk’s cup tie with Shelbourne set for Friday week

Dundalk’s FAI Ford Cup quarter-final clash against Shelbourne has been confirmed for Tolka Park on Friday September 13^th at 8pm.

Should a replay be required it will take place in Oriel Park on Monday September 16^th at 7.45pm.

Dundalk travelled to Tolka Park in the league last month and will be hoping to repeat their 2-1 win from that occasion.

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• Dundalk face trip to Tolka Park in FAI Cup quarter-finals (talkofthetown.ie)

Dundalk face trip to Tolka Park in FAI Cup quarter-finals

Dundalk have been drawn away to Shelbourne in the FAI Cup quarter-finals.

The draw was made last night on RTÉ’s MNS show with the tie in Tolka Park scheduled for the weekend of September 15th.

Stephen Kenny’s side travelled to Tolka Park a couple of weeks ago and came away with a hard fought 2-1 win, while they have already knocked the Drumcondra-based side out of the EA Sports Cup earlier in the season.

Elsewhere in the draw, league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic will face Shamrock Rovers, title holders Sligo Rovers will face either Derry City or Bluebell United and the First Division pairing of Cobh Ramblers or Finn Harps will host Drogheda United.

All roads lead to Oriel

Dundalk’s title challenge continues tonight when they host reigning champions Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park.

In the build up to the game, the board of Dundalk have issued a statement urging fans not to bring flares or smoke matches to any of the club’s matches as so far they have been fined €600 by the FAI. The release of the statement by the club follows on from a similar appeal from the Supporters’ Club earlier in the week.

The statement reads: “While the use of these items may appeal to some fans they are not permitted within Oriel Park or any other League of Ireland ground. Flares and smoke bombs have been banned from grounds all over Europe because of the danger of temporary or permanent injury not just to inexperienced or careless users, but more often innocent bystanders.

Dundalk FC have received written charges from FAI regarding the game at Tolka Park on Friday 9th August. The charges are in relation to 2 flares being ignited and a smoke bomb being thrown onto the playing surface which resulted in the match having to be temporarily halted to allow stewards to clear the item from the field.

The club has now been fined €600 for these incidents and the flare at our last home game while a Dundalk FC supporter received burns from one of the flares in Tolka.

It should not be necessary to point out to fans the difficulty in raising sufficient funds to keep the club running without having to pay unnecessary fines due to the behaviour of a small number of fans.

Dundalk FC wish to make it perfectly clear to everyone that the use of Flares, Smoke Bombs or other prohibited items is not allowed in Oriel Park. Anyone who does so will be subject to immediate removal from the ground and possible further action.

The Board of Dundalk FC are inviting supporters to meet to discuss this issue in the next week and hope to resolve this issue to the satisfaction of all. If you wish to be a part of these discussions or would like to make a written submission, please contact simon.blackmore@dfctrust.com. All are welcome to take part in this forum.”

Previously: Dundalk Supporters’ Club make appeal over flares and smoke bombs

Early goals keep Dundalk’s title challenge on track

Andy Boyle celebrates his early goal against Shelbourne

Dundalk kept up the pressure on league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic with a 2-1 win away to Shelbourne at Tolka Park last night.

The club’s ninth away win of the season, which came about courtesy of early goals from centre half pairing Andy Boyle and Brian Gartland – keeps Stephen Kenny’s side a point behind the pacesetters, who have a game in hand still to play.

There was just 72 seconds on the watch when Dundalk hit the front as Boyle headed home Darren Meenan’s goal for what was almost a carbon copy of Pat Hoban’s second against Shamrock Rovers the previous week.

John Dillon then had a penalty saved by Lee Murphy in the fifth minute after Graham Gartland had pulled down Stephen O’Donnell in the area but the Lilywhites didn’t have to wait long for a second goal as they doubled their advantage on 13 minutes.

Another Meenan corner was not dealt with by the Shels defence, with Gartland left unmarked to power a header to the net.

Dundalk had chances to put the game to bed after that but their failure to take them meant that Shelbourne always had hope of getting back into the game.

They had penalty appeals turned away on 57 minutes after Gartland was accused of handling a shot from Sean Brennan inside the box, with Brennan then going close to pulling a goal back twice in quick succession.

The Drumcondra outfit did pull a goal back 17 minutes from time when Gartland swept the ball home from 16 yards after Dundalk failed to clear a corner from Brennan but thankfully the visitors managed to see the game out to keep their title charge on track.

Shelbourne: Lee Murphy; Pat Flynn (Darren Tinnelly, 83), Ian Ryan, Graham Gartland, Derek Doyle; Sean Brennan, Glenn Cronin, Stephen Hurley (Brian Gannon, 70), Adam Hanlon; Lee Murtagh (Robert Cornwall, h/t), Dean Kelly.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Chris Shields: John Dillon (Jordan Keegan, 74), Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell, Meenan (Dane Massey, 85); PatrickHoban, Kurtis Byrne (Francis McCaffrey,68).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare).

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.

Dundalk’s Hoban is SWAI Player of the Month for July

Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban has been named the Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland’s Player of the Month for July.

The Galway native has been one of the key performers for Stephen Kenny’s side as they have put themselves firmly into the Premier Division title race.

He scored a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Bohemians at the start of July, while also turning provider for Kurtis Byrne’s goal in the 1-0 win over Bray Wanderers at the end of the month.

Hoban has continued his scintillating form into August, after scoring twice in Dundalk’s 3-1 win over Shamrock Rovers last Friday night.

He and his team-mates will be hoping to keep their strong run of form going when they travel to Tolka Park tomorrow night for a tricky tie against relegation-threatened Shelbourne.