Dundalk FC 0 - 1 Limerick 37
Thursday 30th October 2008Dundalk's First Division title bid suffered a major blow in Oriel Park as Paul Danaher's goal in first-half stoppage time saw Limerick 37 claim a victory that denied the home side the chance to go back on top of the table. John Gill's side remain level on points with Shelbourne at the summit but the Tolka Park outfit can now go clear at the top if they claim anything at all from their clash with Sporting Fingal on Friday.
The Louthmen were nervous from the off with virtually all they had to show for their first half effort being two long range strikes from veteran Trevor Vaughan that never really troubled opposition goalkeeper Dave Ryan.
Oriel Park was then plunged into silence in stoppage time at the end of the half when, somewhat against the run of play, Danaher stole in at the back post to rifle David Ryan's corner high to the net.
Dundalk upped the ante on the restart with both David Cassidy and Derek Doyle going close with headers in quick succession but for a long period after that the home side failed to trouble a stubborn Limerick rearguard. Perhaps their best chance to take something from the game came with 10 minutes remaining when a dangerous ball in from the left by Ryan was attacked by Robbie Farrell, who looked destined to find the net from close range only to see it diverted out for a corner by a combination of Danaher and Tommy Barrett.
Barrett then went close to wrapping up the win for Limerick at the other end three minutes later when he struck a free kick from the edge of the area inches over the bar but Mike Kerley's side still managed to hold out for the win, despite having to survive a late scare when substitute Tiarnan Mulvenna shooting narrowly over from close range.
Dundalk: Bennion; Flanagan, Lynch, Whelehan, Crawley; Duffy, Shiels (Mulvenna 65), Crowley, Doyle; Vaughan (Farrell 65), Cassidy.
Limerick 37: Dave Ryan; White, Danaher, Barrett, Cleary, David Ryan, Colbert, Lyons, Walsh, Sheehan; Tierney (Manjor 86).
Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)
Match Report courtesy of www.rte.ie/sport