Dundalk earn valuable point against in-form Waterford

Dundalk FC added another point to their quest for a top-four finish in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division after playing out a 1-1 draw with in-form Waterford at the RSC on Friday night.

The Lilywhites took the lead in the opening half when John Mahon turned the ball into his own net, but former Dundalk defender Hayden Cann levelled matters before the break. Neither side could find a winner in a less eventful second half.

Waterford had the first chance when a ball over the top from Cann was helped on by Padraig Amond, before Conan Noonan fired dangerously across the face of goal.

Dundalk’s first opening arrived after 10 minutes when Egor Vassenin fed Ronan Teahan, but the Kerryman could only direct his effort straight at Stephen McMullan from close range.

The hosts began to turn the screw, but they had not reckoned on some outstanding goalkeeping from Dundalk’s Enda Minogue. He first denied Jorgen Voilas after Cann had played him through, before somehow clawing away Amond’s follow-up effort.

Minogue was helpless seconds later when Noonan found Voilas, who beat the Dundalk goalkeeper but not the woodwork. The Dundalk stopper then produced another important save when Amond’s cross from the right took a wicked deflection off Tom Grivosti.

Daryl Horgan’s effort, straight at McMullan at his near post, was a rare Dundalk attack during that period. They took the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute when a poor clearance from Benny Couto found JR Wilson, whose cross was turned into his own net by Mahon.

Waterford will have felt hard done by, given their dominance, and they pushed desperately for an equaliser before half-time. Minogue did brilliantly to tip over an Amond header following a Noah Mawene delivery into the box, while a goalmouth scramble from the resulting corner eventually ended with Kevin Long’s effort being deflected wide.

Minogue was called into action again, tipping over from Tommy Lonergan’s header following another Couto corner. Soon afterwards, he was alert once more, racing from his line to deny Amond after the striker had escaped Grivosti.

Even Minogue could do nothing about Waterford’s equaliser in the 37th minute. Couto’s corner from the left was met powerfully by Cann, whose header flew beyond the Dundalk goalkeeper.

It was another goal conceded from a set-piece by Dundalk, an Achilles’ heel that has proved costly for them this season.

Waterford could even have gone into the interval ahead when Noonan headed wide from a Voilas cross, although Minogue appeared to have the effort covered.

The second half failed to match the entertainment of the first, although Dundalk created opportunities as Shane Tracey, Horgan and Vassenin all sent attempts off target as the game moved beyond the hour.

Waterford very nearly took the lead when Minogue misjudged a Couto free-kick into the box, with Vassenin almost turning the ball into his own net.

Dundalk thereafter threatened, with Noonan’s headed clearance falling to substitute Aodh Dervin, who drilled a shot wide from outside the area. Fellow substitutes Harry Groome and Declan McDaid also had efforts as the visitors looked for a second.

There were some nervy moments for Dundalk late on as Waterford pressed for a winner, but the Lilywhites held firm and, given the balance of play and the hosts’ strong first-half showing, were good value for the point.

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; John Mahon, Hayden Cann, Kevin Long; Jorgen Voilas, Evan McLaughlin, Noah Mawene, Benny Couto; Conan Noonan; Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan

Subs not used: Arlo Doherty (gk), Joe Ashton, Trae Coyle, Blair McKenzie, Luke Heeney, Jordan Faria, Dean McMenamy, Goforth Amedu, Aaron Brennan

Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; JR Wilson (Harvey Warren 61), Mayowa Animasahun, Tom Grivosti, Egor Vassenin (Harry Groome 72); Keith Buckley (Aodh Dervin 61), Shane Tracey (Bobby Burns 61); Leo Gaxha (Declan McDaid 61), Ronan Teahan, Daryl Horgan; Cian Dillon

Subs not used: Sammy Safaei (gk), Luke Mulligan, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh

Referee: Lucas Keating (Cork)

Attendance: 1,977