Details

Date Time League Season
8 July 2021 5:45 pm UEFA Conference League 2021/22

Match Report

Dundalk deliver in Europa Opener

Dundalk’s European season could not have got off to a better start, with a 4-0 win over Welsh side Newtown in Oriel Park in the Europa League this evening.

First-half goals from Michael Duffy and a record breaker from David McMillan sent the Lilywhites on their way while Will Patching's fantastic effort in the second half sealed the tie for Dundalk.

The hosts kept motoring until the end, with Han Jeong Woo delivering their fourth goal, with the last kick of the game.

This puts them in a favourable position to progress with Tallinn the likely next destination however they do face the Cymru Premier side next week in Wales to complete the tie.

Dundalk took the game to the visitors as Vinny Perth’s men looked to brush aside any concept of a ‘giant killing’ moment in this tie.

Despite dominating possession for large periods they were finding it hard to break down a compact and defensive Newtown. The home side had two penalty calls waved away while the first would have been soft, the second involving Daniel Kelly saw the winger make contact and there were definitive grounds for a penalty.

They didn’t need it as they scored a brace of goals in the space of ten minutes, the first was as an excellent through ball from David McMillan to Daniel Kelly and his cross was met by Duffy who slotted home from close range.

The second saw McMillan break Glen Crowes European goals tally as he struck his 12th contanental score when Darragh Leahy’s cross was met by the forward at the back post and his header was excellent to beat the keeper.

Dundalk pressed for a third with intent and got their goal as Patching opened his account after he collected a pass from McMillan about 30 yards out and struck an unstoppable shot past Dave Jones to the bottom corner.

Despite chances for both sides, neither tested the keeper until the very end as Darragh Leahy's cross was met by Jeong Woo at the back post to head it home with the referee blowing for full time.

Dundalk ran out worthy winners that put the pressure off for the second leg. While qualification could be assured winning the second tie helps Irelands co-efficient in UEFA rankings so it’s not game over yet. There is still work for this side as they head to Oswestry Town in North Wales next Tuesday.

The last time a Dundalk suffered a defeat at home in Europe was 2,548 days ago when Hadjuk Split won at the ‘Home of Football’. Some famous names have come and left Oriel without that winning feeling, Newtown has just been added to the list.

Dundalk

1Alessio Abibi Goalkeeper
4Andy Boyle Defender
6Sonni Nattestad Defender
7Michael Duffy Midfielder 33'
8Sam Stanton Midfielder
11Patrick McEleney Midfielder
13Raivis Jurkovskis Defender
15Darragh Leahy Defender
18Will Patching 19 Midfielder 62'
27Daniel Kelly 77 Midfielder
29David McMillan 17 Forward 39'
10Greg Sloggett Midfielder
14Peter Cherrie Goalkeeper
17Ole Erik Midtskogen 29 Forward
19Wilfried Zahibo 18 Midfielder
25Val Adedokun Forward
28Ryan O’Kane Forward
77Han Jeong-woo 27 Forward 90'
30Niall Brady Goalkeeper
31Mark Hanratty Midfielder
  • 90'

    FULL TIME: Dundalk’s European season could not have got off to a better start with a 3-0 win over Welsh side Newtown in Oriel Park. First-half goals from Michael Duffy and a record breaker from David McMillan sent the Lilywhites on their way while Will Patching's fantastic effort in the second half and a last-minute header from Han Jeong Woo sealed the tie for Dundalk. This puts them in a favourable position to progress with Tallinn the likely next destination however they do face the Cymru Premier side next week in Wales to complete in the tie.

  • 90'

    At the death! Dundalk add a fourth with Han getting his goal on his European debut!

  • 80'

    Wilfried Zahibo and Ole Erik Midtskogen

  • 80'

    Double sub as David McMillan and Will Patching come off.

  • 74'

    Daniel Kelly comes off after what was a great game for the player.

  • 74'

    Han comes into the game for his European debut.

  • 67'

    Newtown Sub: James Rowland is replaced by Sean McAllister

  • 65'

    More on the goal: Don't think that the last update did it any justice! Dundalk pressed for a third with intent and got their goal as Will Patching opened his Dundalk account as he collected a pass from McMillan about thirty yards out and struck an unstoppable shot past Dave Jones to the bottom corner.

  • 62'

    What a strike, Will Patching lets one fly from outside the area and it flies into the net and that should do it for Dundalk.

  • 59'

    Dundalk pushing and attacking with intent but his finish following a deft ball from Patrick McEleney was ruled out for offside, moment earlier the referee denied calls for a handball in the area.

  • 52'

    The first attack for Dundalk in the first half as a corner swept into the area is cleared by the Newtown defence, Dundalk was a bit slow in the restart of this half.

  • 46'

    Fantastic double stop from Abibi to deny Jamie Breese as he blocked the initial attempt and then tipping the ball over the bar from the breaking ball.

  • 46'

    We are back underway for the second half.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: Dundalk lead thanks to goals from Michael Duffy and David McMillan who breaks Glen Crowes European goalscoring record. All in all a good performance that was slow to start. Dundalk could put this tie to bed before a trip to Wales next week if they continue this vein of form for the second half

  • 45'

    One added minute here at Oriel Park.

  • 39'

    Record-breaking goal! His 12th goal in Europe and David McMillan heads home after a fantastic cross from Darragh Leahy.

  • 33'

    And Dundalk make the breakthrough! A fantastic cross by Daniel Kelly feeds the ball to his fellow wing man who taps it home from close range.

  • 31'

    Another penalty call as Daniel Kelly goes down in the box but once again it is waved away.

  • 27'

    The ball is in the back of the net but Kelly's cooly taken effort is ruled out for offside.

  • 23'

    The first real chance for the game, David McMillan from 20 yards out lets one fly but his effort just goes over the bar, the Newtown keeper may of had it covered by it would have tested him.

  • 20'

    Tonight’s referee is Barbeno Luca from San Marino. He was the man in charge when the Republic of Ireland U-17s beat Azerbaijan 6-0 in the Euro U-17 Qualifiers in October 2017.

  • 18'

    Massive shouts for a penalty in the ground as Andy Boyle is taken down in the area, the referee waves away the protests.

  • 18'

    There are two debuts for Newtown AFC tonight with James Rowland and Aaron Williams straight into the side.

  • 11'

    Big chance for Dundalk and McEleney was lurking just on the 6-yard line but the ball just evades him.

  • 10'

    Dundalk starting to test Newtown now, McMillan and Patching both have chances on goal.

  • 5'

    Not much to report as yet, Newtown looking composed on the ball particular in midfield, Dundalk has looked threatening going forward with Daniel Kelly looking strong on the right-wing.

  • 1'

    We are underway at Oriel Park, Newtown kicks us off.

  • Andy Boyle captains Dundalk this evening on what is his 30th European start for the club.

  • Perhaps a good omen for tonight – Dundalk haven’t lost a European match at Oriel since Hajduk Split beat them in a Europa League qualifier in 2014. Since then, BATE Borisov (2015), FH Hafnarfjordur (2016), Rosenborg BK (2017), Levadia Tallinn (2018), AEK Larnaca (2018), Riga FC (2019) and FK Qarabag (2019) have all come to the ‘Home of Football’ and failed to win.

  • Newtown will be the seventh British team to have faced Dundalk in European competition after Rangers (1968), Liverpool (1969, 1982), Linfield (1979), Celtic (1979), Tottenham Hotspur (1981) and Arsenal (2020). They are however the first Welsh team to face Dundalk.

  • Patrick Hoban, Cameron Dummigan and Sean Murray all miss out from the Dundalk camp

  • Newtown subs: 13 Khamrhan Steventon 21 Dave Rose 4 Sean McAllister 16 Dylan Downs 17 Ben Speake 20 Rhys Hesden 22 Alfie Jones

  • Newtown AFC team tonight: 1 Dave Jones 19 Craig Williams 5 Kieran Mills-Evans 3 Callum Roberts 10 Jordan Evans 11 James Davies 18 James Rowland 27 Alex Fletcher 8 Nick Rushton 14 Aaron Williams 9 Jamie Breese

  • Europa Conference Time for Dundalk FC tonight as they take on Newtown in the first round of the new competition. Ciaran Callan here from Oriel Park taking you through tonight's action from the home of football.

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.