U17 League Report: Dundalk U17 1 - 0 Sligo Rovers U17

A slender one goal victory for Dundalk Under 17s in their league fixture against Sligo Rovers, played in a windswept Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon.

Liam Burns made a few changes for the visit of Sligo Rovers to Oriel Park in this Under 17 league encounter.

Following their defeat away to St Patrick’s Athletic on Wednesday evening, the Lilywhites started with Abraham Dixon in goals, Liam Jackson and James Prendergast on the flanks, supporting the central defensive partnership of Gavin Smith and Daniel Corcoran.

Midfield was composed of recent signings Kevin Kelly and Luke Byrne alongside team captain Adam Finnegan, Mark Kilgallon and Thomas Martin, while Jordan Kelly started up front.

The first half was a quiet affair with both teams having early half chances, before Sligo’s Feeney took advantage of a defensive mistake to surge forward but his shot powered into the side netting. 

Thierry Baba was next to have an effort for the visitors, but his header from a Kerrigan corner drifted wide. The wind was playing havoc and Dundalk were forced to play the ball on the ground throughout the half and, while they were impressive in their passing and comfortable on the ball, it restricted their ability to counter attack at pace.

However, they almost took the lead in the 37^th minute courtesy of a Jordan Kelly breakaway but his looped effort drifted just wide of the target.

The second half was just as windy but much livelier with a few early chances for Dundalk, as Jordan Kelly had a shot well saved by Callaghan and Adam Finnegan had a free kick from the edge of the box deflected out by the wall.

Sligo stepped up the pace and Collins slammed a shot over from the edge of the box before Gavin Smith had to show some great strength to defend Dundalk’s goal as the Bit O’ Red threatened around the box.

Dundalk escaped this onslaught and broke forward themselves as a long ball from the right found Luke Byrne in space just inside the box and the new signing took advantage to slam the ball into the back of the net for his first Dundalk goal with just under twenty minutes remaining.  

The sides exchanged opportunities as Kerrigan’s 25-yard set piece flew over Dixon’s crossbar while substitute Adam Kirwan almost opened his own account but his self created opportunity was well snuffed out by Callaghan.

Inspired by this save, the men from the west pushed on for an equaliser and Hever crashed a close range effort against the bar following a low cross which caused havoc in the box and the match ended with the impressive Smith clearing a snatched effort off the line and the young Lilywhites held on for a clean sheet and all three points.

Dundalk FC:  Abraham Dixon, Liam Jackson, Daniel Corcoran, Gavin Smith, James Prendergast, Adam Finnegan (Capt), Thomas Martin, Kevin Kelly, Luke Byrne, Mark Kilgallon, Jordan Kelly.

Sligo Rovers:  Lorcan Callaghan, Ryan Smyth, Thierry Baba, John Mahon, Paul Mc Dermott, Jack Keaney, Dillon Munnelly, Mark Byrne, Liam Kerrigan, Darren Collins, Ruadhan Feeney.