Inside Track: There was a sense of déjà vu at Tolka, but only for a while

Thoughts of Prague loomed large as we listened to John Murphy and Gussie Hearty coming through last Friday night with word on Dundalk’s league tie with Shelbourne Park at Tolka Park.

The Dundalk FM boys were in an ebullient mood as the first half played out. One goal followed another – the second one a real zinger – and when the teams went in for their half-time cuppa, Dundalk showed 2-0 in front.

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Second half. Shelbourne pull one back and then add a second. The sides are level, just as the Republic of Ireland and Czechia were a little over a fortnight earlier. It couldn’t happen again, could it?

No. Whereas extra-time and penalties were needed to decide the Prague tie, this time there was no cause to go beyond the statutory 90 minutes, not that it would have happened had the sides finished level.

Lady Luck didn’t smile on Ireland, but she did at Tolka, Dundalk, grabbing the three points with the help of a late own-goal.

If ever there was an occasion for Murphy to come of his now-familiar bellow: ‘Get into the net, ye boya’, this was it. But he and Hearty were a little subdued at the final whistle, but still glad to have seen their pride and joy collect three valuable points.

They say things even themselves out. Dundalk were hard done by in some of their earlier matches, in particular the one with Drogheda. They’ve made a great recovery after dropping six points in their first three games, and are now in the top four.

As the competition comes to the end of its first quarter, St Patrick’s lead the table, one point ahead of title-holders, Shamrock Rovers. Bohemians are in third, but no sign of Derry City. Clearly, the McClean factor is not having an effect.