Tough week for Dundalk ends in defeat

Another tough week for Dundalk FC ended in defeat as they remained bottom of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after they were beaten 2-1 by Waterford at The RSC.

First-half goals from Sam Bellis and Padraig Amond put Waterford 2-0 ahead with just 16 minutes played, although Jamie Gullan did offer a late lifeline for the visiting side.

It proved futile in the end, but on-field matters seemed irrelevant for cash-strapped Dundalk, who confirmed in advance of this game that outstanding wages had been paid.

Waterford could have hit the front after 40 seconds when after a Louis Jones kick-out, Darragh Power got away from John Mountney before his cross found Bellis, who did well to hold off the challenge of Andy Boyle, however his volley was kept out by Ross Munro.

The Blues did take a 1-0 lead on five minutes, though, with Grant Horton’s long ball over the top catching out Hayden Cann before the lively Bellis nipped in ahead of the static figures of Boyle and Mountney to finish past Dundalk goalkeeper Munro at his near post.

Dundalk’s first effort of the night arrived two minutes later through striker Eoin Kenny, whose angled attempt curled just wide of the mark, not long before a Lilywhite break ended with Ryan O’Kane’s cross just needing a touch from the inrushing Daryl Horgan.

Banished to the stands due to suspension, Keith Long’s side made it 2-0 on 16 minutes when a cross from skipper Barry Baggley was headed home at close range by Amond.

Scott McGill losing possession to Baggley was the root cause of that concession, and the Scottish midfielder tried to atone for his error, but his 35-yard shot was easy for Jones.

On the half-hour mark, Horgan got away from ex-teammate Darragh Leahy before squaring for Kenny, whose shot was blocked out by what appeared to be Horton’s arm.

However, no penalty was awarded by referee Rob Hennessy, with Kenny and Graham Kelly – part of Jon Daly’s backroom team – both yellow-carded for their protestations.

At the end of the first half, Horgan’s corner from the left was met by the downward header of Cann, however Jones never really looked likely to be troubled by that effort.

After being possibly hard done by earlier in the match, Dundalk were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty of their own four minutes into the second period after Dean McMenamy went down inside the area under the challenge of McGill.

Ryan Burke’s corner from the right clipped the crossbar after that, while not long afterwards, Munro saved well from what was a brilliant McMenamy effort from outside the box.

Horgan skied over from close in for Dundalk when he really should have found the target, before McMenamy dragged a long-range attempt wide at the opposite end.

The Lilywhites found a route back into proceedings on 76 minutes when Jad Hakiki’s cross from the right was turned home at close range by fellow substitute Gullan.

Dundalk’s best chance of rescuing a point came six minutes from time when Horgan’s right-field corner was met by Mountney before being pushed around the post by Jones.

Waterford: Louis Jones; Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy, Kacper Radkowski; Darragh Power, Rowan McDonald, Barry Baggley, Ryan Burke (Shane Flynn 90+4); Dean McMenamy (Ben McCormack 71); Sam Bellis (Gbemi Arubi 80), Padraig Amond

Subs not used: Matt Connor (gk), Connor Parsons, Connor Evans, Robbie McCourt, Sam Glenfield, Christie Pattisson

Dundalk FC: Ross Munro; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, John Mountney; Daryl Horgan, Scott McGill (Jad Hakiki 61), Aodh Dervin (Koen Oostenbrink 85), Robbie Benson (Dara Keane 71), Ryan O’Kane (Robbie Mahon 61); Eoin Kenny (Jamie Gullan 71)

Subs not used: Sean Molloy (gk), Mayowa Animasahun, Luke Mulligan, Sean Keogh

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick)

Attendance: 2,226