BIRTHDAY BOY THE HERO

Dundalk 2-1 Shamrock Rovers

Birthday Boy Daniel Kelly was the hero as Dundalk ended Shamrock Rovers’ long unbeaten record with a 2-1 win in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Patrick McEleney and Joey O’Brien traded early blows between the League of Ireland heavyweights. McEleney nearly turned creator for fellow Derryman Michael Duffy later in the half but Alan Mannus proved his equal as the sides went in level despite Rovers’ dominance with the ball.

Shortly after the interval, Aaron Greene’s shot bounced off the bar, before Graham Burke’s sweet strike came back off the post in the 53rd minute.

Dundalk rode the storm and, after more McEleney intervention, they retook the lead through a beautiful Kelly strike before the hour-mark as he celebrated his 25th birthday in style.

The Lilywhites came under pressure from the league leaders for the remainder of the game and had to survive a huge scare late on when Greene got free at the back post, but they held firm to bag a huge three points.

Dundalk interim boss Jim Magilton made six changes to the team that drew in Finn Park, as Cameron Dummigan, Chris Shields, Sam Stanton, David McMillan, Kelly and McEleney all came into the starting XI.

Rovers started brightly and in the fourth minute a Seán Gannon cross was headed off the bar by Rory Gaffney.

However, having soaked up pressure, Dundalk struck in the 11th minute with a lightning break from a Rover corner, Kelly playing in McEleney who was coolness personified before blasting past Mannus.

Rovers, though, replied immediately when goalkeeper Alessio Abibi was unsure and Joey O’Brien had the simplest of tasks in levelling up the scores.

The visitors were by far the better team in the opening half-hour without threatening Abibi again in that period. Dundalk almost stole the lead once more on 32 minutes when the hosts seized possession in the Hoops’ half and McEleney’s cross found Duffy whose effort was beaten away by Mannus.

On 48 minutes, Rovers went close when Liam Scales played the ball down the line to Greene whose chipped effort looked to be heading in only for the ball to bounce up off the surface and come back off the woodwork.

Five minutes later, Burke’s left-footed strike rattled the inside of the post as Dundalk once again thanked their blessings.

In the 59th minute, Dundalk took a stunning lead when McEleney robbed the ball in the Rovers half and played the ball to Kelly who, from the right of the area, arrowed the ball to the far top corner.

Ten minutes from time, Danny Mandroiu’s free-kick from outside the box was on target but comfortable for Abibi.

Following that, Raivis Jurkovskis raided forward and unleashed a strike that flew wide, and then substitute Ole Erik Midtskogen got in behind but his powerful effort was blocked by Mannus.

In the 89th minute, Rovers should have levelled when a quick corner saw Mandroiu deliver delicately to the back stick but somehow Greene fluffed his lines and headed wide, as Dundalk ended the Hoops’ record.

DUNDALK FC: Alessio Abibi; Cameron Dummigan, Chris Shields, Andy Boyle, Raivis Jurkovskis; Sam Stanton (Greg Sloggett 79), Wilfried Zahibo; Daniel Kelly (Ole Erik Midtskogen 75), Patrick McEleney, Michael Duffy; David McMillan. Subs Not Used: Peter Cherrie (GK), Darragh Leahy, Seán Murray, Val Adedokun, Ryan O’Kane, Han Jeongwoo, Jesus Perez.

SHAMROCK ROVERS FC: Alan Mannus; Joey O’Brien, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace; Seán Gannon, Gary O’Neill, Danny Mandroiu, Graham Burke (Dean Williams 86), Liam Scales; Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene. Subs Not Used: Leon Pohls (GK), Adam Wells, Darragh Nugent, Max Murphy, Dean McMenemy, Cole Omorehoman, Kevin Zefi, Aidomo Emakhu.

REFEREE: Robert Harvey (Dublin).

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