Dundalk earn point in Galway

Dundalk FC could be relegated from the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division before kicking another ball despite rescuing a 1-1 draw in the 97th minute at Galway United.

Super sub Eoin Kenny’s last-gasp header from a Ryan O’Kane cross to cancel out Patrick Hickey’s opener stunned the crowd at Eamonn Deacy Park crowd into sheer silence.

However, despite finding a dramatic equaliser, Jon Daly’s side will be relegated to the First Division in the event of in-form Drogheda United winning in Waterford next week.

Dundalk had the better of the first half-hour in Terryland with a series of promising attacks. The best chance created by The Lilywhites in that period came after four minutes when Paul Doyle’s floated free-kick delivery was met by the head of skipper John Mountney to force a save from veteran Galway goalkeeper Brendan Clarke.

Galway’s first effort of the night arrived on 19 minutes as Colm Horgan’s cross was glanced wide by the head of Vincent Borden. At the other end, ex-Galway man Aodh Dervin found himself in space before firing a long-range attempt over the crossbar.

Knowing victory would lift them into second, The Tribesmen started to take control of the game as the first half neared its finish. A corner from the right taken by former Manchester City and Republic of Ireland full-back Greg Cunningham was headed across goal at the back post by Jimmy Keohane before being turned wide by Stephen Walsh.

Indeed, John Caulfield’s men took the lead four minutes before the half-time break when Karl O’Sullivan, a replacement for the injured Ed McCarthy, sent in a cross for Hickey.

And the Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month leaped like a salmon to rise above the Dundalk rearguard and head beyond the grasp of Dundalk netminder Ross Munro.

In the second half, substitute O’Sullivan wriggled away from three Dundalk adversaries before his attempt was very nearly fumbled into his own net by the unconvincing Munro.

The resultant corner, taken by Conor McCormack, was then headed off target by Hickey.

Another ball from Louth-native McCormack was almost headed into his own net by Hayden Cann, not long before Jimmy Keohane fired miles over from outside the area.

Dundalk’s best efforts of rescuing a point on the road came though Jamie Gullan’s shot, which never looked like troubling Clarke. After that, Mountney’s cross was met by the head of substitute Dara Keane before being hacked off the line by Killian Brouder.

Hickey and Keohane had additional half-chances for Galway, but Dundalk never looked like finding a leveller – that was until 18-year-old Kenny’s dramatic goal at the death.

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Colm Horgan, Garry Buckley, Killian Brouder, Greg Cunningham; Vincent Borden (David Hurley 70), Conor McCormack; Jimmy Keohane, Patrick Hickey (Rob Slevin 84), Ed McCarthy (Karl O’Sullivan 27); Stephen Walsh

Subs not used: Jack Brady (gk), Conor O’Keeffe, Regan Donelon, Bobby Burns, Brian Cunningham, Jeannot Esua

Dundalk FC: Ross Munro; John Mountney, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh (Eoin Kenny 81); Koen Oostenbrink (Jad Hakiki 73); Daryl Horgan (Ryan O’Kane 73), Aodh Dervin, Paul Doyle (Norman Garbett HT), Robbie Benson (Dara Keane HT); Jamie Gullan

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mayowa Animasahun, Scott McGill, Bobby Faulkner

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary)

Attendance: 4,291