3rd October
In the dilapidated surroundings of Dalymount Park on a dull Sunday afternoon two teams in deep trouble at the foot of the Premier Division table met. What followed was dire but on that performance neither deserve to stay in the Premier Division. It's Dundalk we're concerned with but why bother ? The players didn't seem to care. They're not bothered, they have no place to fight for and in the paper two days before their manager says they're improving with every game. As someone who has been to every Dundalk game this season I have to say that is the biggest load of bull I have ever heard in my life. It seems as though our management are prepared to accept relegation. I mean Byrne and Williams are probably going to leave anyway in the Summer so why should we stay in the Premier Division. I'll tell you why. We're the second most successful club in National League history, we've won two league titles this decade and we have a very loyal fan base who don't deserve to be dragged through the mud this season. That team we put out yesterday wouldn't have beaten the Bohemians under 13's who played beforehand.
Dundalk despite a crap performance in Bray decided to make only one change with David Crawley replacing Shane Reddish with 37 year old Tom McNulty being told to mark Bohs quickest and most skilful player Fergal Harkin. Mick Doohan could not get into the starting XI and was left on the bench. The first half was non descript with no real chances at all in a half brightened up by the protests of Bohs fans at their chairman and manager. I mean Dundalk couldn't have found a better time to play Bohs with the fans on their back and the players lacking confidence. On a worse note for Dundalk Peter Withnell had to be taken to hospital after a collision with Bohs keeper Mick Dempsey when Withnell was through on goal. The ref saw it fit not to take any action on Dempsey who later went off concussed. Bohs gave a debut to a 16 year old keeper but they could have put Roddy Collins' brother Steve in goal and he wouldn't have had any problems. If any good has come out of Withnell's injury it is that Dundalk will now see the lack of depth in their squad and with David Ward overdosed on sleeping tablets yesterday we need competiton for places up front.
The Bohs goal on 53 minutes was farcical. The always disappointing Doolin gave the ball away stupidly and Fergal Harkin dribbled past the statue like McNulty and crossed to Graham Lawlor who neatly headed past Steve Williams. There really is no action to talk about apart from the goal. Bohs should have made it 2 when all and sunder having a crack at goal in a mad scramble which saw the ball hit the bar, the post and Steve Williams. Mick Doohan who came on for Withnell and played the rest of the game up front [ I know ] flashed a low shot past the post. David Crawley came close with a free kick and Dundalk briefly threatened at the end but with no conviction
Dundalk lost 1-0 and it's hardly suprising. After bringing on Doohan and going 1-0 dowm Dundalk made two more substitutions. Amazing that we actually made three substitutions in one game but the fact that the two brought on in the second half were right backs puts a dampener on the historic moment. Shane Reddish came on for Lee Thew who was so bad that it was only a matter of time before I personally ran on the pitch and removed him from it. Then with 10 minutes left Dundalk's inspired move to rattle the Bohs defence was to replace right back Tom McNulty with Sean Murphy who made his return after two years absence. Turlough O Connor must have been laughing in the Bohs dugout. To look for good performances is hard. Williams did well and Doohan tried hard up front while Noel Melvin comes out of the game with some credit. He is a centre back and should be told it. The rest were all rubbish.
If it wasn't clear before it should be now that this team will be relegated unless something drastic happens. We need a clearout of personnel before it gets too late. And I don't mean start with the players, I mean start from the top and that's the manager/managers. If they think yesterday's performance was satisfactory then senility must be playing a part in our downslide. It's not looking good people, it's not looking good .