The Commentary Box: Dundalk had to dig in to get result against UCD

Dundalk worked hard to grind out a one nil win over UCD at Belfield on Friday night. It was a well-deserved three points, but could have ended in utter disappointment when Ciaran Kilduff's men conceded a penalty three minutes from time.

Enda Minogue saved, and a follow-up goal from a parry was disallowed for offside. UCD have a right to feel sorry for themselves.

But it would have been an awful end to a night, in a game where Dundalk fought and battled intensely, yet won by a first-half injury-time penalty spot kick from Daryl Horgan.

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The game came 24 hours after it was confirmed that the Sean Keogh move to Brighton had been confirmed for an undisclosed fee.

Sean first came to the Dundalk soccer public's attention by making 11 first-team appearances in last season's ill-fated year that were relegated. They could so easily have gone out of football.

But they did not, and now, despite all the odds, are in the automatic promotion spot. This could propel them back to the Premier Division at the first time of asking. But with nine games left, there is still a lot of football to be played.

And off the field, the situation remains in doubt that Dundalk would get a Premier Division licence for next season, given the mess the club has been in over the past couple of years.

The transfer fee for Sean Keogh will, of course, be a boost. But it's doubtful it goes anywhere near to putting a significant dent in the club's debts.

Sean made the left full position his own, under the managership of Jon Daly in the second half of last season. It was great seeing a player from the academy team getting his chance. He impressed from the off.

Clubs from the UK and abroad have been monitoring Sean's progress all the way through his underage career. His under-17 and 19 international Republic of Ireland appearances really put his name in the shopping window for the big clubs.

Brighton pounced for him a few weeks ago. They did everything by the book. They first contacted Dundalk, and then everything flowed from there. The two clubs agreed a deal for Sean for an undisclosed fee.

No details on add-ons have been revealed. But I am sure they could be very lucrative for Dundalk in the years going forward. Sean had his medical with Brighton last Monday.

The announcement that he was a Brighton player came on Thursday after personal terms were agreed between the player and the Premiership club.

Sean follows former Dundalk hero Richie Towell, who left the then league champions to join the Seagulls. But Richie was out of contract with Stephen Kenny's side and went for nothing.

Dundalk showed great sense having Sean under contract, as they have other academy players who are contracted.

The one and only advantage of being relegated last season is that the youngsters from the Academy have been able to make it into the first team. This would not have happened if they were in the Premier Division.

So many youngsters have got such valuable experience this season in the First Division, that if Dundalk automatic promotion happens, some will keep their place for next season, no problem.

Sean links up with Brighton's under-21 squad. Three weeks ago, he told me he wants to establish a place for himself in the Republic of Ireland senior squad.

That desire has been greatly strengthened by him linking up with the Brighton under-21 team. Brighton say they are delighted to have Sean on board.

Sean links up with the manager of the under-21 side, Shannon Ruth. He said that they were very pleased to have signed Sean.

"He gives us a lot of attributes and qualities we look for in our young players. We are looking forward to seeing how he develops in our setup this season."

Sean Keogh joins a Brighton side having made 38 first-team appearances for Dundalk. He made 26 for Dundalk in Division One and 12 in the Premier Division. Dundalk also confirmed the move for Sean to Brighton.

They said he joined Dundalk in 2023. Describing Sean as an outstanding member of the squad and a regular member of the first team since he made his debut in 2024.

"The 19-year-old has made a significant impact both on and off the pitch. The transfer reflects Sean's talent and dedication. It also shows the hard work of our academy and coaching staff.

"We are proud to see one of our own take the next step in his career and join an English Premier Division club. Everyone at Dundalk FC wishes Sean all the best as he embarks on this exciting new chapter with Brighton."

Sean says it is very hard to say goodbye to a club that has given him so much over the last three years.

"With all the challenges in the club over my time here over the past three years, what has always remained consistent is the loyalty and support of the fans to the players. Friday nights in Oriel Park are unmatched.

"I have loved every minute of the training and playing with the players and staff. The team spirit, friendship and work ethic of our group will drive us on for promotion.

"To my manager, Ciaran and his assistant Ken, your support and guidance to our young team has been invaluable. For me personally, you have driven me on to higher standards and to be the best player I can be.

"Thanks to the owners, staff and academy coaches, all who have helped me on this journey. Come on the town."

Sean really caught the heart and soul of Dundalk FC with his final message before his departure. He has been a magnificent asset and contributor to the rebuilding of the club.

As Dundalk begins to rise from the ashes, I am sure that the late Maxi is looking down with great pride at a youngster who was only with the club for three short years and yet gave so much.

It's a terrible shame the way we lost Maxi in the manner we did, and of course, the late great Harry Taaffe as well.

Well, we must now return to the fight for promotion. As already said, Dundalk won the game by a single goal against UCD at Belfield. It was an exciting game, which Dundalk dominated for long spells.

Declan McDaid was my Man of the Match. He was superb. He ran and ran and gave his all for the cause. He gave the UCD midfield and defence a very difficult time.

He created many goal-scoring chances, which Dundalk just seemed to be unable to put away. They failed to capitalise on these chances, and in the end, it was a penalty that earned them the points.

Enda Minogue had a decent enough game in goals, saving a penalty right at the death. He also took off a number of decent saves throughout the game, but he also looked shaky at times. The manager must keep an eye on this.

Dundalk had already played UCD twice this season. They beat them in Belfield in March by a single goal. But they were held to a draw 1-1 at Oriel when UCD snatched a late goal from the penalty spot.

UCD came into Friday's game on a good run of form. They had won four of their last six games. They drew the other two. They are shaping up well for a promotion playoff place. Dundalk lined out with Minogue in goals.

O'Keeffe and Wilson were the two full-backs. Conor played in Sean Keogh's position. Mayowa made a return to the team for the first time since the Kerry game when he picked up a hamstring injury.

He slotted into the usual centre-half position with Vinny Leonard. Daryl Horgan and Declan McDaid played on the wings, with Andy Paraschiv a forward midfielder. At centre midfield were Aodh Dervin and Harry Groome. Gbemi Arubi played up front.

Gbemi. He had a top-class game against Wexford the previous week. On Friday night, he was much quieter. He never looked like repeating the magical performance of getting two goals as he did against Wexford.

Eoin Kenny replaced Harry Groome on 67 minutes. Shane Tracey and Rohan Vaughan replaced Andy Paraschiv and Declan McDaid on 67minutes also. Keith Ward replaced Daryl Horgan on 93 minutes. Dean Ebbe replaced Gbemi Arubi on 67 minutes.

There was one change in the Dundalk team from the one that played Wexford the previous week. Shane Tracey was replaced by Mayowa, who was returning from injury. Sean McHale remains on the injury list.

There was no sign of Norman Garbett on the bench. It had been flagged that he was returning to the side. However, this did not materialise. Norman played one game in the second half of last season.

He picked up a serious injury in a game against Shamrock Rovers. But Norman wanted to return from New Zealand and play for Dundalk this season. Sadly, he was injured in a preseason game and has not been in the side since.

It's thought he is on the verge of a return. Let's hope so. Ronan Finn was badly missed by UCD in midfield. He was instrumental in the students getting a one-all draw at Oriel in a previous game this season.

Dundalk were the better team in the first half, but failed to put the game to bed with all the chances they had. Man of the match Declan McAid put in a great cross from the right after just three minutes.

Andy Paraschiv met the ball with a great header, which came off the crossbar.UCD's Doyle then saw himself clean through. He shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Mayowa gave away a very silly foul on a UCD player in a very dangerous position. Verdun curled the ball around the Dundalk wall. It beat Minogue and crashed off the Dundalk crossbar.

The Dundalk midfield did not seem to be clicking as well as it could have been.UCD were able to find gaps in the midfield, which put the defence under pressure.

Andy Paraschiv came close on 24 minutes with a direct shot from Daryl Horgan's corner. It was saved superbly by UCD keeper Daryl Kavanagh.

UCD had a let-off on 32 minutes when Harry Groome missed a chance with a half-hearted effort. Harry usually puts them away. Dundalk continued their dominance. Daryl Horgan was straight through on goal.

A great tackle by the UCD centre half stopped the Dundalk skipper from opening the scoring. Two minutes from the break, Harry Groome once again found an opening. He shot wide from the edge of the box.

Dundalk were finally ahead two minutes into injury time in the first half. Dundalk won a corner out on the right. Daryl Horgan took the corner kick. The referee noticed that Mayowa's jersey was being pulled inside the box.

He pointed to the spot. It was a great boost for Dundalk. Daryl Horgan had no problem slotting the ball home. As it turned out, that was to be the winner that brought UCD's long unbeaten run to an end.

Dundalk started the second half very well. Declan McDaid fired in a powerful shot that forced the UCD keeper into a great save. Conor O'Keeffe gave away a needless free on 68 minutes.

He had already been booked and was very lucky the referee did not send him off with a second yellow. The referee had a busy night booking players from both sides. He booked the UCD manager on 70 minutes.

Aodh Dervin was also booked sometime later. Enda Minogue nearly gave a goal away when he failed to cut out a cross. But Enda made up for the mistake when he made a terrific save from a UCD 35-yard effort on 75 minutes.

UCD were in control as they moved forward in droves. They had a great effort saved by Minogue on 78 minutes. Ryan McBrearty came on as a sub for the University with 12 minutes remaining.

He is a nephew of Peter Halpin, the former Dundalk CEO. He joined UCD at age 14. Dundalk had a huge let-off with seven minutes remaining. Clancy had a stinging shot that came off the Dundalk crossbar.

The UCD manager then emptied his bench as he made one last attempt to get something from the game. UCD had a great chance to level it up with three minutes remaining.

Mayowa made yet another needless mistake by handling in the box. Harry Brennan stepped up to take the penalty. He could have struck it better. But Enda Minogue was the hero as he parried it away.

However, UCD put the loose ball in the back of the net. It looked as though they had earned themselves an equaliser. Few could have complained about the score.

But amazingly, their goal was disallowed for offside. For the second time in the game, Mayowa was very lucky he was not sent off, as he should have been given a second yellow card for handling the ball in the box.

Dundalk skipper Daryl Horgan picked up an injury. He was replaced by Keith Ward on 93 minutes. Dean Ebbe missed a great chance for Dundalk right at the death, when he could only muster a weak shot at an open goal.

The referee played six minutes injury time and blew the whistle as the Ebbe chance was missed. It was a very good performance by a Dundalk side that had to dig into all of their energy and get a result.

That they did it from a penalty does not matter. They won the game and got the three points. The two full-backs, O'Keeffe and Wilson, were excellent. The two centre halves were dominant.

Mayowa was a great asset to have back in the team. His effort and contribution was 100 per cent. He had a hamstring injury that could have kept many players out for the season.

But he worked very hard at returning to full fitness and made it back weeks ahead of schedule. But he must stop making needless mistakes by giving away frees that put his team under needless pressure.

Having said that, Mayowa was a tower of strength at the back along with his colleague Vinny Leonard, whose every move is being monitored by Norwich City and a number of other clubs.

Enda Minogue did well enough for Dundalk. He took off a number of fine saves during the game. His penalty save was very good. He positioned himself very well. When the kick was taken, he was going the wrong way.

But he left himself with the option of being able to stop the shot with his foot as he went for the ball. It was a save that showed Enda has the natural instincts of a good keeper.

It should give him a great confidence after his mistake against Wexford last Friday week. At the time of writing, Dundalk remain six points clear of closest rivals Cobh and Bray.

Cobh saw off Longford while Bray beat Treaty in a very controversial game with a late winner. Treaty lost Stephen Healy through a red card early in the first half. They went on to lead the game 2-1 with their ten men.

Sadly for them, they conceded two late goals to allow Bray to stay six points behind Dundalk. An appeal committee upheld Treaty United's appeal against the red card.

The committee say that in accordance with the FAI Disciplinary Regulations that Healy would be allowed to play in last night's game against Kerry. The committee do not have the power to overturn the result.

They should have. No way should Bray have those points. A bad decision by the referee gifted them the points. Even the FAI conceded the sending off should never have happened.

The referee in question should be suspended for at least three games. The result should be overturned and the game declared a draw. I have said before that poor refereeing across the Premier and First Division is costing all our clubs.

The First Division table may well look different this morning, as there was a full programme of games last night. They come too late for this column as it is being written on a Sunday to meet the paper's publication deadline.

I am hoping Dundalk keep up their recent good form and see off Longford. But they are a very difficult side to play against. Nothing can be taken for granted.

Next Friday, Dundalk take on bottom-of-the-table Athlone Town. They were tipped by the media to be one of the teams to challenge Dundalk for promotion this season. It has not worked out that way.

They were taken over by new owners a month ago. They very wisely appointed former Dundalk player Ian Ryan as manager. It's going to take Ian time to reorganise things at Athlone.

But he will get there. Ciaran Kilduff led the Athlone senior women's team to the Premier Division title. Two wins in the Champions League qualifying stages last week has put them through to the third round.

It's a great achievement. Dundalk have a very good underage structure for young women and girls right up to the under-19 section. But it's time for Dundalk to have a senior women's team at Oriel.

All of the players, once they are overage for the under-19s, head to other clubs, particularly in Dublin, to continue their careers. Dundalk must break the glass ceiling and apply for membership of the senior League of Ireland section.

Three years ago, Dave Mackey was brought in to cover for Stephen O'Donnell as the senior coach of the Dundalk men's team. This was to satisfy UEFA rules then in operation that managers must have a full coaching badge for European games.

This was in 2023. The Dundalk men's team were in the Europa Conference League. Dave was an unsung hero of the past. He won a League winner's medal in 1991 under Turlough O'Connor.

He went into coaching and managed Bray for a short time. But he had a great experience in managing underage girls' teams and senior women's teams.

He came to Oriel at the start of 2023, hoping that he could help Dundalk set up a senior women's team within a year or two. The idea was shot down by the then-powers that be.

They indicated that a senior team was still some time off. When I heard that, I took it that it would never happen under the tenure of the then-owners.

Of course, I know that Dundalk's finances are very tight now, given how close the club nearly went out of business last September.

However, by the start of the 2027 season, I really think Dundalk just have to put a senior team into the League of Ireland. It's terrible to think that such talented players finish at under 19 at Oriel and then move on to other clubs.

The death took place during the week of a very famous Dundalk player who was part of the first Jim McLaughlin League winning team of 1975-76.

Sean Sheehy was a striker and formed a lethal partnership with the great Terry Flanagan, who himself was one of the best strikers Dundalk ever had. Sean's dad came from Dundalk but later moved to Dublin.

Sean was born in Dublin in 1952. He signed for Dundalk in 1970 before moving to Preston North End in England. That was in August 1972. In 1973, Sean went out on loan to Huddersfield.

It was short-term, and he returned to Preston the same year. In October 1974, Sean returned to Ireland and signed for Bohemians. He scored the goal that won the league for the Phibsboro club in 1975.

But Jim McLaughlin wanted Sean back in Dundalk for the following season of 1975-76. Sean was a terrific striker for Dundalk. But there was still a final cog to put a lethal strike force in place.

Dundalk started their league campaign without setting any major headlines. McLaughlin knew he needed another striker alongside Sean. He raided Bohemians again for the second time in four months and signed Terry Flanagan.

Sean and Terry set the Dundalk team on fire. They went on to win the league that season and were chased all the way by Finn Harps for the title.

It was to be the first of many league titles won by Jim McLaughlin with Dundalk and other League of Ireland sides. Sean made 50 appearances for the Dundalk first team between 1970 and 1972.

He scored seven goals over that period. Sean made 40 appearances for Dundalk between 1975 and 1977. He scored eight vital goals over that period. This was especially so with the League winning team of 75-76.

Sean was capped for the Republic of Ireland under-23 side twice, four times at youth level and three times as an amateur. Sean won the League with Bohemians and the League Cup.

He won the League with Dundalk once. Sean's title-winning side at Oriel only lost one League game that season. They were beaten by Cork Celtic at Turner's Cross.

Dundalk were also knocked out of the first round of the cup that season by Cork Celtic at Turner's Cross. The following season, Dundalk were drawn against Cork again at Turner's Cross in the cup.

This time, Dundalk won 1-0 and went on to win the cup for the first time in 29 years. Sean had left Dundalk by this time. Sean died on 28th July at the age of 73.

His dad never forgot his Dundalk roots. He was an active member of the Dublin Branch of the Dundalk supporters club for many years. As far as I know, they no longer exist.

Bohemians and Derry City brought out a joint statement following a serious outbreak of violence outside the Brandywell last Friday week. I have seen footage of the trouble.

It was some of the worst violence I have seen in my years having an interest in League of Ireland soccer. Derry have had a lot of problems with people who do not go to their games causing trouble outside the Brandywell over the years.

It's clear a group of people from Dublin came to Derry with no interest in going to the game. One reporter from Derry, I know, said that most of the people from Dublin who caused some of the violence did not attend the game.

He said that a lot of the troublemakers from Dublin arrived in Derry with gum shields, knuckle dusters and hammers. The Dublin group attacked property near the Bogside. The trouble escalated from then on.

Young people arrived from all over Derry as social media was broadcasting events. Some of the violence happened near a bonfire, which is being built to commemorate a special event in the Nationalist calendar in the north.

The Derry youths were just as culpable for the violence as the Dublin youths. None of them had any connection with either club. One of the worst scenes I saw on video was a person shooting fireworks from a weapon suited for that purpose.

The fireworks were directed towards the ground. One of them landed on the pitch. The PSNI arrived at the scene of the violence near the Brandywell. Two people were taken to hospital.

Both clubs are awaiting an investigation by the FAI. But sure, what can they do? The trouble happened outside the ground. That does not come within the parameters of the FAI. It's a PSNI matter.

But this is not the first time there has been hooliganism and violence outside the Brandywell. A number of years ago, a Dundalk supporters' bus was attacked about a mile from the ground.

A young child was very lucky not to have been killed by what was thrown through the window of the bus. A number of windows on the bus were smashed, and there were minor injuries.

Since then, no official supporters' bus from Dundalk goes to the Brandywell. I also remember in 2020 when a young Dundalk supporter was attacked outside the Brandywell and struck over the head with an iron bar.

Luckily, the youth came back into the ground and sought medical attention. The Derry club doctor assessed if the youth was ok to travel back to Dundalk.

He was fine to travel. The late Harry Taffe gave the youth a lift back to Dundalk and left him safely with his parents. Derry City do their own security inside the Brandywell. In years gone by, the old RUC were never seen in the ground.

The PSNI can have a presence now in these days. But it's usually very low-key. If they are there at all. Derry will call them if they are needed as well.

There have been numerous other incidents involving a hooligan element who live near the Brandywell, causing trouble for Derry City. Last season, I remember fireworks being thrown over the walls of the ground.

It was not that serious. But Derry supporters will tell you that these people who cause the trouble outside the ground have nothing to do with the club.

Derry City is a great club and have a wonderful group of supporters. But the hooligan element outside the ground and the problems they are causing must be tackled.

Both Bohemians and Derry will work together to identify the hooligans. But this type of violence must never be allowed to happen again. Otherwise, the FAI must act.

Anyway, I hope when you open your Democrat this Tuesday, that Dundalk beat Longford yesterday and are still six points clear of Cobh and Bray. Have a safe week. Look after each other, and as always, please be careful out there.