League Report: Dundalk 1 - 1 Shamrock Rovers

Dundalk missed the opportunity to go seven points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division with a 1-1 draw with Shamrock Rovers at Oriel Park on Tuesday night.

In what was a thoroughly entertaining and heated contest, Stephen Kenny will be ruing his side’s missed opportunities in what must surely be seen as two points dropped with Cork City now just five points behind the league leaders and with a game in hand.

Dundalk, fresh from their Europa League heroics in Alkmaar last Thursday, made just one change from that match – replacing John Mountney with Robbie Benson while Shamrock Rovers made three alterations to the side which lost 3-0 in Cork in last Friday.

The home side started brightly and created the first real opening after five minutes when an incisive run from Patrick McEleney found the in-form David McMillan but his shot was straight at Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

McEleney was involved again soon after but Murphy was on hand to save the Derry man’s shot following a neat interchange between Daryl Horgan and Ronan Finn. Next to test his luck was Sean Gannon, who really should’ve done better when he blazed over from Dane Massey’s cross on 13 minutes.

Rovers created their first decent chance near the half-hour mark when a beautiful Shane Hanney cross from the right found the head of Gary Shaw but Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers was equal to the effort.

Despite the home side’s dominance, Shamrock Rovers took the lead against the run of play a few minutes later when a poor pass from Andy Boyle, which was miscontrolled by the usually reliable Rogers, led to Shaw tapping the ball into an empty net.

Rovers, now with their tails up, created another excellent chance shortly afterwards when defender Dave Webster hit a powerful shot that was well saved by Rogers, who was looking to redeem himself following his howler that which to the Rovers goal.

Most of the Oriel Park faithful thought their team had drawn level not long after that when Horgan released Massey on the left and his pull back found McMillan, but his shot went into the wrong side of the net.

Dundalk were now piling on the pressure in search of that equaliser and went agonisingly close to doing so when McEleney hit the post before Benson’s effort was deflected wide, and that was the last meaningful effort of the first half.

Stephen Kenny’s side continued to typically keep possession for large spells after the break but struggled to break down the Shamrock Rovers defence.

In what was a cracking atmosphere between two of Ireland’s heavyweights, Dundalk finally broke the Hoops’ resistance close to the hour mark when McEleney’s excellent delivery from a free kick was met by the head of Brian Gartland, who scored his fourth league goal of the season and drew the defending champions level.

The Lilywhites were now pressing for what would’ve been a crucial winner while Rovers were desperately clinging on for a crucial point and Finn was next to test Murphy, who saved well after some skilful play from Horgan.

Dundalk were denied what looked a certain penalty with ten minutes to go when Massey appeared to be clearly pushed by Dave Webster but referee Rob Rogers wasn’t interested and instead booked the Dundalk left-back for diving.

Murphy then produced a world-class piece of goalkeeping to tip over from Horgan’s looping effort on 89 minutes and in what was a heated battle throughout, Rovers caretaker manager Stephen Bradley was sent to the stands after a confrontation on the touchline.

The Rovers keeper came to the rescue right at the death, tipping Massey’s overhead kick after Gartland was denied a second from Webster’s goal-line clearance and despite eight minutes of additional time, Dundalk couldn’t find that ever elusive winner.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Patrick McEleney, Stephen O’Donnell, Ronan Finn (Dean Shiels 87), Robbie Benson (John Mountney 46), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 76).

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Paddy Barrett, Shane Grimes, Chris Shields.

Booked: O’Donnell (53), Massey (79).

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, David Webster, Robert Cornwall, Sean Heaney, Shane Hanney (Dave O’Connor 82); Stephen McPhail, Gary McCabe; Dean Clarke Gary Shaw (Patrick Creg 70), Sean Boyd (Aaron Dobbs 82).

Subs not used: Michael Quinn, Killian Brennan, James Doona, Aaron Bolger.

Booked: Boyd (19), Murphy (50), Clarke (87).

Referee: Robert Rogers.

Attendance: 2,490.

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Dave Webster (Shamrock Rovers).

See photos from the game as taken by Michael P Ryan here.