Video

Details

Date Time League Season
22 April 2022 7:45 pm LOI Men's Premier Division 2022

Match Report

Martin header the difference for Dundalk

A game of high drama that had cards galore, three sendings off and a penalty but a John Martin stunning header with just five minutes to go sealed the three points for Dundalk in a game at times reached boiling point.

Dundalk took the lead with a Daniel Kelly strike with Shane Farrell levelling for Shelbourne. Dundalk coach Stephen O’Donnell summoned his bench and it was Martin who applied the fantastic touch to seal the tie for the Lilywhites. 

In the final seconds of a first half that had produced little in the way of activity, the game would spring into action. Paul Doyle had the first shot on goal after Stephen Bradley's initial cross was met by the Dundalk midfielder, but his effort was blocked.

Bradley then had a glimpse on Brendan Clarke's goal with a half-volley effort that could have caught the Reds keeper off guard, but he did well to save it. Conor Kane's corner kick took a deflection and soared far over the bar for the visitors.

Darragh Leahy was on hand to prevent a certain goal when he denied Moylan after he appeared to be on his way to scoring from the left side of the area. On the stroke of half-time, Shane Griffin was sent off for a second yellow card, which infuriated Damien Duff on the touchline, and his protests were too much for Paul McLaughlin, who also handed him his marching orders. The former Irish international saw red for the first time in his career.

The first half was quite quiet, but it paled in comparison to the second. Patrick Hoban tested Brendan Clarke early in the half as Dundalk looked to take the game to the visitors. Shelbourne's had penalty appeal was turned down, and Dundalk took the lead shortly thereafter. After some excellent play by Hoban to spot Leahy over his shoulder, the full back's cross was brilliant, falling to Daniel Kelly at the back post, who tapped home for the third consecutive home match.

After a collision between Mark Connolly and Conor Kane, Shelbourne was awarded a penalty, as Paul McLaughlin pointed to the spot. Shane Farrell converted the penalty as the game appeared to be heading for a draw, but O'Donnell summoned the bench to inject some life into the proceedings. It was a huge success.

With what was his first touch of the ball, John Martin received a superb cross from the right and his header flew past Brendan Clarke to the top left-hand corner to seal the tie.

Dundalk

1Nathan Sheppard Goalkeeper
2Lewis Macari 29 Defender
4Andy Boyle Defender
5Mark Connolly Defender 67'
7Daniel Kelly Midfielder 63'
9Patrick Hoban 11 Forward 40'
10Greg Sloggett 17 Midfielder 53'
15Darragh Leahy Defender
16Steven Bradley Forward 58'
20Joe Adams Midfielder
21Paul Doyle 6 Midfielder 40'
14Peter Cherrie Goalkeeper
6Sam Bone 21 Defender
11John Martin 9 Forward 85'
17Keith Ward 10 Midfielder
23John Mountney Midfielder
24Mayowa Animasahun Defender
25Mark Hanratty Midfielder
28Ryan O’Kane Forward
29David McMillan 2 Forward

Shelbourne

1Brendan Clarke Goalkeeper
2John Ross Wilson Defender
3Conor Kane 9 Defender
4Aaron O’Driscoll Defender
5Shane Griffin Defender 18'
8Mark Coyle Midfielder
10Sean McSweeney Forward
14Daniel Carr 32 Forward
16Aodh Dervin 22 Midfielder 40'
17Shane Farrell Forward 80'
58'
23Luke Byrne Defender
25Lewis Webb Goalkeeper
21Gavin Molloy Midfielder
6JJ Lunney Midfielder
9Sean Boyd 3 Forward
12Jad Hakiki Midfielder
15Adam Thomas Defender
19Stanley Anaebonam Forward
22Jordan McEneff 16 Midfielder
32Kameron Ledwidge 14 Defender
  • 90'

    FULL TIME: A game of high drama that had cards galore, three sendings off and a penalty but a John Martin stunning header with just five minutes to go sealed the three points for Dundalk in a game at times reached boiling point. Dundalk took the lead with a Daniel Kelly strike with Shane Farrell levelling for Shelbourne. Dundalk coach Stephen O’Donnell summoned his bench and it was Martin who applied the fantastic touch to seal the tie for the Lilywhites.

  • 90'

    Five added minutes here

  • 85'

    GOAL: It's a stunning header by Martin with what I'm pretty sure is his first touch to send a superb cross from the right flashing past Brendan Clarke to the top left hand corner

  • 82'

    John Martin and David McMillan are on the way for Dundalk they replace Lewis Macari and Patrick Hoban

  • 80'

    Shane Farrell converts the penalty and we are all square here.

  • 79'

    PENALTY SHELBOURNE - Mark Connolly was judged to have fouled in the area and the referee points to the spot.

  • 74'

    Sam Bone is on for Paul Doyle. Bone on for the 100th league appearance of his career replacing Doyle, also making his 100th league appearance of his career

  • 70'

    Attendance tonight is 2427 in Oriel Park.

  • 69'

    Sean Boyd is on for Conor Kane for Shels. The striker has 4 goals in his last 4 matches against Dundalk

  • 67'

    Connolly is booked for a foul on Farrell.

  • 63'

    MORE ON THE GOAL: Some great play by Hoban to spot Leahy over his shoulder and the full back's cross is superb as it falls to Daniel Kelly at the back post as he slots home for the third home match in-a-row

  • 63'

    GOAL DUNDALK! Daniel Kelly is the right man at the right place to slot the ball home from a cross from Leahy.

  • 61'

    Ok here is the state of play: Two red cards, a manager sent off all that this game is missing is a goal, Dundalk pressing high at the moment but for how long.

  • 57'

    Shane Farrell was booked for the melee that happened before Bradley was sent off.

  • 56'

    And now Dundalk is down to ten men, Bradley has been sent off!

  • 55'

    Keith Ward comes on for Greg Sloggett.

  • 53'

    Greg Sloggett was given a yellow card for a foul on Moylan.

  • 52'

    Big call here for McLaughlin as Connolly and Moylan clash and he went down in the area, there were protests but the referee waves play on. He does however award a free-kick to Shelbourne which is cleared.

  • 50'

    Hoban starting to get a little more room in this half, Kelly and Leahy link up but the ball into Hoban is cleared just at the right time, the resulting corner is caught by Clarke at the back post.

  • 48'

    A cross deep from the right sees Hoban at the back post force a smart save from Clarke. Dundalk has started the better here.

  • 46'

    Ledwidge is one for the second half as he replaced Dan Carr.

  • 46'

    We are back underway at Oriel Park, Shelbourne restart the contest.

  • 45'

    A game that had not much to write about as just sprung into life! Shelbourne down to ten men and have their manager sent off in a half that produced very, very little. Patrick Hoban just went close with a free-kick and Darragh Leahy had to clear a shot en route to goal.

  • 45'

    Damien Duff has also been sent off and his protests to Shane Griffins sending off!

  • 45'

    A second yellow for Griffin for a foul on Bradley and he has been sent off!

  • 45'

    One added minute here, both sides still huffing and puffing here.

  • 42'

    A super block by Leahy to deny Moylan after he looked to be in on the left

  • 40'

    Dervin is booked for his altercation with Hoban.

  • 40'

    Doyle is also booked for the initial foul.

  • 40'

    Hoban is booked after a foul led to an altercation between the teams.

  • 34'

    A corner for Dundalk just clips the head of Hoban, there is confusion in the box and its cleared for another Lilywhite corner.

  • 30'

    A corner to Shelbourne sees the ball bobble in the area before a snap shot from Conor Kane takes a deflection and goes over for another corner which Dundalk clears for the second time.

  • 26'

    Stephen Bradley with a snapshot that could have caught Clarke off guard but he did well to save the effort on the half volley.

  • 22'

    Seems to be a bit of interest in Duff from the Dundalk home faithful. He contested the decision of a free-kick and went out of his area much to the ire of the home fans.

  • 18'

    For a foul on Stephen Bradley, Griffin gets a caution and a yellow card.

  • 13'

    Bradley has a sight on goal but his free-kick curls well wide of Clarke's post.

  • 12'

    A fantastic chipped cross into the area finds Greg Sloggett but his touch in the area got away from him.

  • 11'

    A real midfield tussle here as both defences locking out any respective attacks, Shelbourne for the most part has looked the more positive side.

  • 6'

    The first attempt on goal falls to Paul Doyle as Bradley's initial cross is met by the Dundalk midfielder, it is blocked down however.

  • 4'

    Dundalk is a little bit short with the passing which has given Shelbourne opportunities to snatch the ball off the intended player, nothing as yet in terms of chances of note as both sides look to get an idea of the game plan.

  • We are underway here at Oriel, Joe Adams kicks us off.

  • Bit of a delay here as it seems there is an issue with one of the goalkeeper nets.

  • Here come the teams, Dundalk in the one-off strip for MND and Shels in the familiar red strip.

  • For the first time since the 10th of December 2020, John Mountney is back in a Dundalk FC squad, the right-winger was a substitute for the Lilywhites in their last Europa League Group match in the Aviva Stadium vs Arsenal which Dundalk lost 4-2.

  • For the first time since the 10th of December 2020, John Mountney is back in a Dundalk FC squad, the right-winger was a substitute for the Lilywhites in their last Europa League Group match in the Aviva Stadium vs Arsenal which Dundalk lost 4-2.

  • Dundalk will wear a special one-off jersey to raise awareness about Motor Neurone Disease tonight with ‘Watch Your Back MND’ on the front.

  • Will a proud record come to an end tonight? Dundalk, along with Shamrock Rovers, are one of only two sides undefeated at home while Shels, along with Derry City, are one of only two sides undefeated away from home.

  • It’s the 300th meeting of these sides tonight in all competitions and the 173rd league game.

  • Stephen O’Donnell is managing against Shelbourne for the fourth time tonight. He has one win, one draw and one defeat against them, including a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park last month

  • Good Evening from Oriel Park, the home of football where Dundalk take on Shelbourne. Damien Duff's side are in fine form away from home while Dundalk will be looking for home comforts.

Past Meetings

(Round 5)
1 - 1
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Dundalk

(Series 11)
3 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park

Dundalk v Shelbourne

(Series 2)
1 - 2
LOI Men's Premier Division
Tolka Park

Shelbourne v Dundalk

Officials

RefereeAssistantsFourth Official
Paul McLaughlinAlan Sherlock
Emmett Dynan
Oliver Moran

Ground

Oriel Park
Carrickmacross Road, Dundalk No. 3 Urban, The Municipal District of Dundalk, County Louth, Leinster, A91 RC44, Ireland

Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.