Benching of Keogh explained in Dundalk draw with Treaty

Ciaran Kilduff revealed that Sean Keogh’s absence from Dundalk FC’s starting line-up in the 1-1 draw with Treaty United was due to injury, clarifying that the decision was enforced rather than tactical.

The 19-year-old left-back, who had registered three goal involvements in as many games leading up to the clash with Treaty, was a surprise omission from the Dundalk teamsheet, as on-loan St Patrick’s Athletic defender Sean McHale was drafted in to fill the left-back role.

Keogh, introduced as one of three substitutions by manager Kilduff in the 68th minute, made an immediate impact, as, barely 90 seconds after entering the fray, he twisted and turned past Karl O’Sullivan before delivering a floated cross into the box.

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Though Treaty skipper Mark Walsh managed to head it clear, his clearance fell invitingly to his counterpart, Daryl Horgan, who pounced to prod home and hand Dundalk a 1-0 lead.

“Sean hasn’t trained all week,” confirmed Kilduff to The Democrat afterwards. “He’s carrying a bit of an injury, so we didn’t have him from the start. I was told I had him for 10 or 15 minutes. It was a great bonus that we got him for 20/25. Hopefully, he’s come out the other side of it because he’s a huge player for us.

“Shane Tracey came in as well. His left foot gives us a little outlet there in the centre, and then Keith Ward adds a creative spark for us in there.

“We were going to try and win the game with them changes, and that’s probably what happened—you get the goal, and you’ve got all your attacking players on the pitch trying to see it out.

“Maybe we could have continued our momentum and went to try to kill the game with a second, but it wasn’t to be. It was a bit of a rollercoaster there. There’s nights where we’ll nick it late. They’ve already hurt us late earlier on in the season as well. It’s all part of the game.”

Across both the League of Ireland and the PTSB Leinster Senior Cup, Horgan’s strike marked his ninth direct goal contribution of the season—comprising four goals and five assists.

Speaking of his captain, Kilduff added: “I was delighted. He had a few chances—he had the header in the first half at the back post. He’s taken his goal great. It was a big moment in the game for us as well.

“If it fell to anyone, you were happy it was Daryl—someone of his experience. He chips in with a lot of assists and that as well. He’s a huge player for us, and I was delighted for him to score.”

Another standout creative presence—particularly during the first half—was vice-captain Aodh Dervin, who is set to return to his hometown club, Longford Town, at Bishopsgate this Saturday evening (kick-off: 7.30pm).

“He’s a great character,” enthused Kilduff. “He’d play anywhere if you ask him—he’d do anything. He was marking the big man (Trpimir Vrljicak) there at the end as well at right-back; there were reasons for that.

“Aodh is capable of going both boxes. With his energy levels, I don’t like restricting him to just one position. He needs to run—he has that tenacity as well in his play. He’s capable of playing anywhere across the middle or anywhere across the back as well.”