Dundalk FC suffer defeat to Waterford at Oriel Park
Dundalk FC 2-3 Waterford
Dundalk FC’s recent winning run came to a halt after they suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat at home to SSE Airtricity League’s bottom club, Waterford FC in Oriel Park on Friday evening last.
This is the second time this season that the Lilywhites have squandered a two goal lead against Waterford, having drawn 3-3 with the same opponents back in May.
Prior to that, Dundalk had dismantled their opponents 5-0 in what was their first win since their return to the Premier Division.
Given the start they had, that outcome looked a much more likely scenario, with Dundalk 2-0 ahead inside the first half hour, thanks to goals from Eoin Kenny and Harry Groome.
Fresh from his stunning winner against Bohemians last week, Kenny’s flicked header from a Daryl Horgan corner home at the near post gave his side a 10th minute lead.
Ciaran Kilduff’s side were in control at this stage and nearly got a second goal on 22 minutes when Eoin Kenny headed straight at Waterford keeper, Stephen McMullan following another cross from Horgan.
Dundalk eventually got their second goal through Harry Groome for his first of the season.
The former Bray Wanderers man started the move by winning the ball back in his own half, which led to Daryl Horgan collecting an Eoin Kenny pull back just inside the box, in move which also involved the industrious Ronan Teahan.
When Daryl Horgan’s path to goal was blocked, he teed up Harry Groome who made no mistake from 10 yards, rifling the ball to the top corner.
Dundalk were nearly three to the good on 34 minutes when Eoin Kenny struck the bar on the angle, after playing a one/two with Groome in a move which started with a mazy run from Daryl Horgan who evaded two or three Waterford challenges.
Despite being under the cosh, Waterford have shown signs of improvement under new manager, Graham Coughlan, and in Tommy Lonergan, they Munster side have a player capable of big moments, alongside the experienced Padraig Amond.
Having rattled the woodwork moments earlier, Lonergan gave Waterford a lifeline in first half stoppage time after he got his head to a Benny Couto corner with the goal awarded despite the best efforts of Dundalk’s Keith Buckley on the goal line.
The second half began in similar fashion to the first with Dundalk pressing for another goal to restore their two goal lead.
Gbemi Arubi fired the ball wide from 12 yards, Eoin Kenny saw a curling shot from the right wing fly narrowly wide, while Waterford keeper Stephen McMullan produced a fine save to deny a rasping drive from Aodh Dervin.
Waterford keeper McMullan was called into action again when he parried out a close range strike from Daryl Horgan, before John Mahon scrambled the ball to safety, with the home side looking the likelier side to get the next goal.
However, Dundalk with their makeshift defence, did look vulnerable from set pieces and second balls in their own box, which ultimately proved to be their undoing.
Waterford’s Jordan Houston hit the post from close range, while sub Jorgen Voilas was denied in the follow up by a last ditch block by Rob Cornwall.
But just passed the hour, Waterford were awarded a penalty when Marc Lynch adjudged that Bobby Burns had blocked a Will Johnson shot with his hand. Tommy Lonergan dispatched the penalty to the roof of the net to make it 2-2.
Lonergan was then denied by Minogue moments later with a close range volley, with the keeper also called into action to thwart a header from former Dundalk and Drogheda United player, Hayden McCann as Waterford continued to threaten in the air.
Eoin Kenny went close with a few shots for Dundalk including one which crept wide from 20 yards. But Dundalk had a huge let off when another Waterford throw in saw Padraig Amond’s goal bound strike cleared off the line by Keith Buckley.
The home side did not heed that warning as they failed to deal with another Will Johnson throw which saw John Mahon acrobatically find the net on 85 minutes. Mahon had scored the late equaliser against Dundalk in that thrilling 3-3 draw back in May.
Dundalk could not muster an equaliser as they missed a chance to go level on points with third place St Patrick’s Athletic in the league table. They do remain five points behind second place Bohemians with two games in hand.
As for Waterford, they are now just two points off second from bottom Sligo Rovers with this priceless win reigniting hopes that they may avoid automatic relegation to the First Division.
Dundalk FC: Enda Minogue; Keith Buckley, Rob Cornwall, Bobby Burns, Tyreke Wilson; Aodh Dervin (Mayowa Animasahun 74), Harry Groome (Shane Tracey 68), Ronan Teahan, Eoin Kenny, Daryl Horgan, Gbemi Arubi.
Subs: Peter Cherrie (GK), Leo Gaxha, Luke Mulligan, Sean Spaight, Aaron Keogh, TJ Molloy.
Waterford FC: Stephen McMullan; Jordan Houston (Trae Coyle 80), Hayden Cann, John Mahon, Kevin Long, Benny Couto; Luke Heeney (Sam Glenfield 56), William Johnson, Dean McMenamy (Jorgen Voilas 56); Padraig Amond, Tommy Lonergan.
Subs: Arlo Doherty (GK), Cian Barrett, Conan Noonan, Jordan Faria, Ronan Manfield, Goforth Amedu.
Referee: Marc Lynch.
Attendance: 2,073