Shelbourne regained their position at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division table after Aiden O'Brien’s fourth minute strike saw them end a 12-year drought against bottom of the table Dundalk at Oriel Park.
The Reds hadn’t won at the Co Louth venue since 2012 but the former Republic of Ireland striker’s instinctive early finish saw them claim a huge victory on a night where Derry City lost away to Galway United.
The Candystripes had briefly replaced Damien Duff’s side at the top of the table last weekend but the Tolka Park outfit now sit three clear once more, with a game in hand to come against Bohemians next Friday.
The visitors had to do things the hard way despite their early goal with Jon Daly’s men pushing hard for an equaliser.
However, Conor Kearns and his defence held out for a 14th clean sheet of the campaign to ensure a potentially huge victory in the race for the title.
The hosts had a major let-off as early as the second minute when Sean Keogh’s attempted header back was short, allowing Ali Coote to nip in and toe poke past Felix Goddard. Fortunately for the Lilywhites, he was unable to get full purchase on his attempt as Andy Boyle got across to clear.
Dundalk failed to heed that warning, however, as they found themselves behind two minutes later. Wood’s ball in from the left saw Coote steal in behind Keogh again. Goddard got down to prevent him from passing him but O’Brien was on hand to hammer the loose ball to the net ahead of Hayden Cann for what was his first league goal for the club.
To their credit, the home side went agonisingly close to an equaliser on 12 minutes after Shane Griffin failed to deal with Keogh’s ball forward. Eoin Kenny picked up on the loose ball and lobbed Kearns but the ball drifted just the wrong side of the post from the teenager's perspective.
Jamie Gullan then curled a free kick over the wall six minutes later but it was straight down the throat of Kearns.
Shels then had further chances to add to their advantage with Cann making a good block to deny Coote after he was teed up for a shot inside the box by Rayhann Tulloch on 25 minutes.
Then on 41 minutes a superb angled ball by Tyreke Wilson looked like it had played Coote in but just as the Scot was about to pull the trigger, Keogh slid in to force a corner, which Paddy Barrett headed tamely into the arms of Goddard.
Dundak applied plenty of pressure at the start of the second half and were unlucky not to be level on 56 minutes after Robbie Mahon seized on a loose ball after Barrett had cut out Keogh’s cross, but his first-time left foot shot was kept out by a big outstretched right boot by Kearns at his near post.
O’Brien then went close to doubling his side’s lead with a header that beat Goddard 10 minutes later but was headed off the line by Cann before Coote blasted the rebound well over.
Dundalk went even closer on 79 minutes when Dan Pike’s cross from the right found its way to substitute Ryan O’Kane coming in off the left with his first-time shot coming off the inside of the post before Horgan fired well over from the edge of the box with the rebound.J
John Mountney then had a goalbound header blocked on the line in the third minute of stoppage time by John O’Sullivan as Shels held out for a huge three points.
Dundalk: Felix Goddard; Dan Pike, Andy Boyle, Hayden Cann, Sean Keogh (Robbie Benson 60); Daryl Horgan, John Mountney, Aodh Dervin, Robbie Mahon (Ryan O’Kane 70); Jamie Gullan, Eoin Kenny (Scott McGill 70).
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin, Tyreke Wilson (Kameron Ledwidge 77); JJ Lunney (John O’Sullivan 83), Mark Coyle (Evan Caffrey 60); Ali Coote, Harry Wood (Matty Smith 60), Rayhann Tulloch (Liam Burt 77); Aiden O’Brien.Referee: Eoghan O’Shea (Tipperary).
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
