skip to main content

Dundalk frustrated by 10-man Shels in absorbing contest

Updated / Friday, 21 Apr 2023 22:22
Shelbourne's Shane Farrell, right, is consoled by team-mate Luke Byrne after receiving a red card
Shelbourne's Shane Farrell, right, is consoled by team-mate Luke Byrne after receiving a red card

Rayhaan Tulloch won and then conceded a penalty before scoring a cracking late equaliser as Dundalk salvaged a point against a tenacious Shelbourne who played for over 80 minutes with 10 men in a thrilling contest at Tolka Park.

Making three changes from their draw with Derry City last Sunday, injury-hit Dundalk, who included Ireland manager Stephen Kenny's 17-year-old son Eoin on their bench, got their first sight of goal four minutes in.

FULL MATCH DETAILS

Alfie Lewis picked out Archie Davies on the right who all too easily ghosted past a sluggish Shane Farrell to cross.

Tulloch just couldn’t get turned onto the loose ball in the area as Shelbourne scrambled it clear.

That signalled a decent spell of possession for the visitors as Shels struggled to get a foothold in the game.

The evening then looked to have turned against Damien Duff’s side on ten minutes when they conceded a penalty and had Farrell sent off.

Andrew Quinn gave away the spot kick when he tripped Tulloch who had skipped in behind him into the box on the left.

In a moment of madness, Shels wingback Farrell received a straight red card for appearing to raise his hand to Keith Ward with referee Damien MacGraith standing right beside them.

Further drama ensued as Conor Kearns got a strong hand to save Robbie Benson’s penalty before diving on the loose ball, the third penalty Dundalk have failed to score from this season.

Duff was then booked by overworked referee Damien MacGraith for dissent minutes later before exchanging views with Ward.

Shels were then further incensed when Paddy Barrett was adjudged to have fouled Dundalk goalkeeper Nathan Sheppard, who had parried Evan Caffrey’s clever free kick, before putting the ball in the net.

The action continued apace with Davies cutting in on the right to force Kearns to tip over his curling drive while Ward had a volley blocked by Byrne.

Shels might then have snatched the lead on 37 minutes only for the bravery of Shepperd.

Kian Leavy skinned Davies on the left to cross low into the near post.

Shepperd dived at the feet of Matty Smith whose effort ricocheted back off the keeper to hit the Shels striker and somehow go wide.

Shels players celebrate Jack Moylan's opening goal

Kearns was soon back in action at the other end, saving well on his line after another scramble in the home area from a Ward corner.

In a madcap game, Shels remained a real danger on the counter with Shepperd redeeming his poor positional sense to stretch out a hand to save Jack Moylan’s attempted lob from Barrett’s long ball.

Shels continued to really trouble Dundalk on the counter from the resumption.

A Darragh Leahy slip saw Moylan burst forward to set up Smith whose touch let him down as Shepperd saved at his feet.

Their tenacity then brought Duff’s side the lead on 56 minutes.

Leavy did well on the left initially as Smith treaded a ball though for the run of Evan Caffrey who was pushed over by Tulloch to concede a penalty.

Rayhaan Tulloch celebrates with teammates after Dundalk's equaliser

Moylan sent Shepperd the wrong way in blasting his spot kick to the net to a deafening roar from the Shels fans on either side of the old ground.

Dundalk owned much of the ball for the remainder of the game, Benson hitting a post with Tulloch firing the rebound wide.

Their pressure finally told on 81 minutes with a piece of magic from Englishman Tulloch who skipped past both David Toure and Caffrey before drilling to the bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Paddy Barrett, Luke Byrne, Shane Griffin; Andrew Quinn (David Toure h-t), Evan Caffrey, JJ Lunney, Shane Farrell; Matty Smith, Jack Moylan (Brian McManus 85), Kian Leavy (Cameron Ledwidge 60).

Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller, Darragh Leahy, Robbie Benson; Aflie Lewis (Paul Doyle 79), Connor Malley (Patrick Hoban 60); Keith Ward, Yohannes Yli-Kokko (Ryan O’Kane 51), Rayhan Tulloch; John Martin.

Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).

More stories on

Read Next