Dundalk lose narrowly at Tolka Park

Dundalk FC made a swift return to the foot of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table after losing 1-0 to Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday night.

It was John Martin who came back to haunt his old club, as it was his 71st-minute winner which kept Shels in top spot, and sent The Lilywhites back into the bottom.

Dundalk manager Jon Daly made three changes from the side that won 3-2 at St Patrick’s Athletic just four days beforehand – their first away win of the campaign.

John Mountney returned in place of Zak Bradshaw, who was released on compassionate grounds, while Mayowa Animasahun replaced Cameron Elliott in a changed formation.

Ross Munro was listed on the original team-sheet, however the goalkeeper was injured in the pre-match warmup, resulting in a league debut for 19-year-old Sean Molloy.

The young stopper wasn’t troubled by Tyreke Wilson’s shot on seven minutes, which was planted miles over from distance – that the game’s first noteworthy effort at either end.

The hosts looked destined to take the lead on 20 minutes, though, only for Daryl Horgan’s superb last-ditch tackle on Evan Caffrey, who was about to pull the trigger after being found by a Will Jarvis pass after the Shels winger had broken down the right flank.

Dundalk’s first attempt came just past the half-hour mark when Ryan O’Kane wriggled away from two Shels adversaries before curling an effort over from outside the area.

League leaders Shels spurned another opportunity to go ahead after ex-Lilywhite Martin slipped in Jarvis, whose first-time hit from close range was a mere inches wide.

Caffrey headed off target from a Wilson cross as the opening half neared its end, while the former UCD playmaker fired another attempt, this time over the bar from range.

In first-half stoppages, O’Kane cut inside for Dundalk before placing miles over the top, while at the other end, Caffrey volleyed just wide, though Sean Molloy had it covered.

Early in the second half, substitute Liam Burt’s effort from distance had the Dundalk goalkeeper at full stretch, not long before a JJ Lunney ball was planted wide by Caffrey.

Eoin Kenny was then introduced from the bench by Daly, and the teenager, who started his Leaving Certificate on Wednesday, tricked Lunney before finding the side-netting.

Shels took the lead on 71 minutes, however, when Jarvis got away from Archie Davies before squaring across the six-yard box to Martin, who finished with ease to make it 1-0.

Dundalk’s best chance for a leveller came 15 minutes from time when Kenny’s turn and shot crashed off the crossbar with Conor Kearns beaten, but Shels held on after that.

Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Gavin Molloy, Tyreke Wilson; Mark Coyle (John O’Sullivan 65), JJ Lunney; Matty Smith (Liam Burt HT), Evan Caffrey (Dean Williams 65), Will Jarvis (Kameron Ledwidge 81); John Martin (Shane Farrell 85)

Subs not used: Lorcan Healy (gk), Shane Griffin, Jad Hakiki, Keith Ward

Dundalk FC: Sean Molloy; Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Mayowa Animasahun (Robbie Benson HT); Archie Davies, Hayden Muller (Eoin Kenny 62), Paul Doyle, John Mountney; Daryl Horgan, Jamie Gullan (Cameron Elliott 26), Ryan O’Kane (Sam Durrant 76)

Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), Jamie Walker, Luke Mulligan, Sean Keogh

Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo)

Attendance: 3,850