1 v 2 
Finn HarpsVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 March 2021 | 5:45 pm | LOI Men's Premier Division | 2021 |
Match Report
Foley Harp’s Hero in Defeat of Dundalk
An Adam Foley brace sealed the three points for Finn Harps as Dundalk suffered the first loss to the Donegal outfit since 2006. The win sees Harps secure two wins out of two while Dundalk has collected just a single point.
While no panic buttons will be pressed as of yet, it's far too early in the season for that but certainly, questions will be asked of the players as they head into a crunch match with Shamrock Rovers next week.
In the last thirteen matches before tonight, Dundalk had won eleven and drawn twice with Finn Harps, outscoring their opponents by thirty-eight goals to one. But the most concerning aspect is now in the last two meetings between the sides Finn Harps have taken four points out of six. Dundalk will lick the open wound of this one but Finn Harps were worthy of the win.
Finn Harps early intent to this match was shown as they continued to press Dundalk’s defence on every occasion closing down on players tightly, particularly on goalkeeper Alessio Abibi. An indication that Ollie Horgan's game plan was to upset Dundalk’s like of playing from the back and building up passages of play through slick and quick passing.
However, as the half grew Dundalk began to grow in stature and both Patrick Hoban and Greg Sloggett had opportunities to put Dundalk into the lead but they couldn’t get the ball from under their feet quickly enough to get a strike. Finn Harps responded by pinning the home side to their collar. Dundalk opted to deploy a 4-3-3 formation which was a change from last weeks system against Sligo Rovers.
This in turn meant that the decision to deploy wing-backs in attacking phases of play left Dundalk’s centre backs exposed to counter attacks if they play broke down. Just before half time, Finn Harps took the lead by being alert to that aspect of the play when Abibi with a heavy touch from a pass back saw the ball latched onto by Adam Foley and the striker did excellently to send the ball home despite the best attempts of Abibi to clear the danger.
Dundalk responded at half time by ringing in the changes by springing Jesus Perez and Ryan O’Kane from the bench and in particular, Ryan O’Kane showed serious promise going forward from the offset. The seventeen-year-old gave Dundalk much needed width and speed to the left-wing and he was brought down for a free-kick, which in turn led to a fantastic Dundalk equaliser.
Michael Duffy sent in an excellent set-piece ball and Patrick Hoban headed the cross powerfully past McGinley to level the tie. Dundalk with their tails up went searching to put themselves into the lead as they continued to press and Hoban nearly went close to adding a second when an excellent cross once again by Michael Duffy into the goal area was met by the low diving Hoban but with McGinley looking beaten he somehow got a hand to the ball with a fine stop.
That was as good as it god as Foley put Finn Harps in the lead again as he broke free of the Dundalk defence and while there were questions of an offside position in the build-up he continued to bear down on the Dundalk goal and despite the onrushing Abibi he slammed the ball past the keeper.
Han Jeong-Woo was introduced for his Dundalk debut and despite a bright start, he couldn’t pull off the dream debut that most would have craved for him. While he looked like a player who showed great promise for the team going forward this season it was Hoban who had the best chance of an equaliser when in the dying minutes he tried the spectacular with an overhead kick only for the goal worthy of the attempt to be denied by the post.
Finn Harps solid shape and hard-working performance were paid off with three points while Dundalk will have to refocus for Shamrock Rovers next week. Going further adrift in points even at this stage of the season could be a dangerous proposition for Shane Keegan and his charges.
Timeline
| 42' | 11. Adam Foley | |
| Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe Ryan O'Kane | 45' | |
| Sam Stanton Jesus Perez | 45' | |
| 47' | 11. Karl O'Sullivan | |
| 9. Patrick Hoban | 48' | |
| 63' | 11. Adam Foley | |
| 9. Patrick Hoban | 65' | |
| 15. Darragh Leahy | 67' | |
| Greg Sloggett David McMillan | 72' | |
| 77' | Adam Foley Ryan Shanley | |
| 77' | Barry McNamee Stephen Folan | |
| Darragh Leahy Han Jeong-woo | 80' | |
| 83' | 8. Mark Coyle | |
| 90' | 29. Ryan Shanley |
Past Meetings
|
(Series 14)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk v Finn Harps |
|
(Series 5)
0 - 4LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps v Dundalk |
5 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
0 - 3LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
1 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
4 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
2LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
7LOI Men's Premier Division
Finn Park Finn Harps FC v Dundalk FC |
3LOI Men's Premier Division
Oriel Park Dundalk FC v Finn Harps FC |
Officials
| Referee | Assistants | Fourth Official |
|---|---|---|
| Derek Tomney | Chris Campbell Rob Clarke | Graham Kelly |
Ground
| Oriel Park |
|---|
| Carrickmacross Road, Dundalk No. 3 Urban, The Municipal District of Dundalk, County Louth, Leinster, A91 RC44, Ireland |
Ciaran Callan
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.
FULL TIME: An Adam Foley brace is the difference as Dundalk suffer defeat on their first league home game of the 2021 season. A very poor performance by Ryan O'Kane has been a bright spark on what has been a poor night for the FAI Cup holders. Much to ponder for Dundalk going into next week.
Four added minutes here in Oriel.
Shanley gets booked for kicking the ball away.
A very unlucky effort from Hoban as he tried to score from an excellent overhead kick from the striker left McGinley for dead but the post denied him!!!!
Adam Foley becomes the first Finn Harps player since Jonathan Speak in September 1996 to score twice against Dundalk. Harps won 5-0 in Finn Park that night.
Early indications are that Han has a very good first touch and looks pacy. Could this be a new pacy addition to Dundalk?
And making his debut is Han Jeong-Woo. The first South Korean to play in the League of Ireland.
Darragh Leahy is on his way out of the game
Foley's match is over and a great performance for him
Shanley is the second of Finn Harps subs.
Folan comes on for extra defensive cover.
The midfielder comes off
McMillan comes on to partner Hoban up front.
Sloggett is off and is replaced for an attacking option.
O'Sullivan lets one fly from a tight angle but Abibi does well to save.
Leahy fouls O'Sullivan and is given a booking for the action.
Patrick Hoban booked for dissent.
Foley puts Harps in the lead again! Foley breaks free of the defence and off the offside trap, with the onrushing Abibi he slams it past the keeper to put Harps in front.
What a chance for Dundalk! A cross sent in deep into the goal area was met by the diving header by Patrick Hoban but McGinley gets a hand to it to pull off an excellent save.
Ryan is alright ... Ryan O'Kane has given a lot more drive and purpose than Junior since he has come on. Won the free-kick for Dundalk that led to the goal and he is consistent in looking for the ball and making attacking phases of play. One for the future it seems.
And Patrick Hoban opens his goalscoring account for 2021 in the League with a fantastic header from a Michael Duffy free-kick which left McGinley stranded to the spot.
Ryan O'Kane comes on for his league debut.
Another half time switch here at Dundalk
Jesus Perez comes on for Stanton
Half Time sub for Dundalk as Stanton leaves the game.
Hoban tries his luck from the training ground routine and it goes wide of the post. That's the end of the half, Abibi will not want to see that goal again. Dundalk 0-1 Finn Harps.
And for the first time since 2007 Finn Harps have a goal at Oriel Park, a terrible mistake by Abibi saw Foley put pressure on the keeper and his kick out bounced off Foley and into the empty net.
A mix up in the area sees McGinley lose sight of the ball, Hoban gets it at his feet but he can't get a shot away.
Big chance for Dundalk as Duffy's corner is met by Uzokwe and he heads just over.
A period of pressure from Finn Harps at the moment they have Dundalk pinned to the collar here and Abibi is alert and attentive to the danger. It seems that Dundalk has changed the system by playing a back four but deploying two wing-backs, this leaves Boyle and Cleary very exposed going forward.
Just a sixth league start tonight for Darragh Leahy, that’s still one less start than he has managed for the club in Europe. it’s also the 70th start of his club career this evening.
It looked as if the striker was set to score. He latched onto a pass and only for the outstretched hands of the diving Abibi to cut out the angle he was pushed aside and cleared.
Big chance for Dundalk as a cross sent into the area was met by Greg Sloggett but he couldn't make that perfect connection. Dundalk really warming into this game now.
A corner from Karl O'Sullivan was sent in the first time and when it was sent in for the second time Abibi was caught out of position however he was fouled.
An interesting set-piece from Dundalk as Michael Duffy's corner was sent in the attacking players flooded the goal line then broke at the last minute. Pat Hoban peeled off to the back post but it didn't reach the striker.
Leahy cuts onto this right foot and takes aim from distance however it had the pace but not the target and it flies over the bar.
Junior has a chance on goal but it was excellently blocked before he could get the shot away.
An excellent run down the left by Michael Duffy was fed into Hoban but he couldn't get the ball from under his feet.
Who has started the brightest? Finn Harps. They are seriously pressing Dundalk's defence with plenty of work down the channels. Abibi is a target for them not giving him an inch on back passes.
First shot in anger falls to Seymore who strikes first time on the edge of the area, it was always rising and it goes over the bar.
And we are underway here at Oriel Park. Dundalk gets us underway with Sam Stanton kicking us off at Oriel Park.
And here come the teams! Dundalk will wear the familiar Black and White strip. Finn Harps are wearing quite the bright green strip!
A familiar face in the crowds today, Stephen O'Donnell is here watching Dundalk as part of his preparations for an upcoming game for St. Patricks Atheltic.
It's a big day for Andy Boyle. Six days after making league appearance number 150 for Dundalk, it’s league start number 150 now for the defender. A rock at the back he came back to Oriel Park following three years in the UK.
Dundalk defender who dons the number 23 Cameron Dummigan makes his 23rd league appearance for the club tonight. It is his 23rd start in all competitions. It’s just his 12th league start for the club.
Dundalk can only name seven subs this evening. On the injury list are McEleney, Midtskogen, Adedokun, Murray and Kelly who are all out. While Jurkovskis and Nattestad are on international duty and won't be available tonight.
Good evening from a cold, wet and somewhat miserable evening for football as Dundalk hope to get off to a flying start at home in their quest to regain the SSE Airtricity League title. I'm Ciaran Callan and its great to be here at the Home of Football for another night of football action. The teams are in and we will update the line ups shortly.