Second half rally sees Dundalk FC record vital win over Shelbourne

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division

Dundalk 2-1 Shelbourne

A resurgent Dundalk FC made it two SSE Airtricity League wins in the space of four days last Monday night, as they came from behind to defeat Shelbourne 2-1 at Oriel Park.

Having thumped St Patrick’s Athletic 5-0 the previous Friday, The Lilywhites fell behind after 15 minutes, with John Ross Wilson giving Shels the lead, but second-half goals from Rayhaan Tulloch and Andy Boyle gave Dundalk a win that moved them up to third.

Stephen O’Donnell’s side had a chance a minute before falling behind, when a good Archie Davies cross was headed well over the top of the crossbar by Cameron Elliott.

A mere seconds later at the opposite end, an alert Wilson got in behind a hesitant Darragh Leahy before rounding Nathan Shepperd to finish and make it 1-0 to Shels.

Leahy redeemed himself three minutes into the second half, when his cross was met by the diving header of Tulloch, who scored his second in as many games to make it 1-1.

On 68 minutes, a Connor Malley corner from the left was headed home by Boyle, who had risen above a flurry of players in the penalty area to give Dundalk a priceless lead.

Damien Duff’s side couldn’t fashion a leveller, cueing ugly scenes at the final whistle, with several members of the Shels staff clashing with those in the Dundalk technical area.

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Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Wasiri Williams, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy; Greg Sloggett, Connor Malley (Alfie Lewis 79); John Martin (Patrick Hoban 59), Keith Ward (Ryan O’Kane 59), Rayhaan Tulloch (Hayden Muller 87); Cameron Elliott

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Mark Byrne (gk), Robbie Benson, Robbie McCourt, Anthony Moyo

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; John Ross Wilson, Andrew Quinn, Paddy Barrett, Kameron Ledwidge, Tyreke Wilson; Evan Caffrey (Shane Farrell 73), Gavin Molloy, Jonathan Lunney (Brian McManus 60); Kian Leavy (Matty Smith 64), Jack Moylan (Kyle Robinson 73)

Subs not used: Scott van der Sluis (gk), Daithi Folan (gk), Luke Byrne

Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo)

Attendance: 2,766