2nd May
So there it is. The final match of the season finishes like many of the rest of this seasons games, in defeat. The end of an era which started 73 years ago. Dundalk are now a First Divison side, a division which Dundalk just don't belong in but on this seasons performances deserve to be in. Finn Harps are a club going up while we are on the way down. The only way is up from here.
Dundalk lined out in a 4-4-2 formation with Crawley, Reddish, Brady and Melvin at the back , Ward , Campbell, McNulty and Hoey in the middle and up top Martin and McGinnity. It was a game that Dundalk could have won but it was typical end of season stuff with Harps' players not risking injury and Dundalk minds wondering whether they will be wearing the white next season. Regardless most of the noise came from the terraces where the Dundalk fans were singing their hearts out. Dundalk had a chance or three in the first half with Martin and McGinnity getting into good positions but just could not get the shot in. In fact it was McGinnitys most encouraging performance for Dundalk however I feel he is not up to this level yet. Dundalk had a good chance when Hoey headed goalwards from a cross but the header had not enough power. Any Dundalk chances were overworked with the players trying to pass it in when a first time shot would have sufficed but it was a tame game, not worth this much column space. Harps had a shot or two but Williams had nothing to worry about.
Into the second half and Dundalk were on the offensive. Fortune came into midfield and had a great chance when Martin and Ward forced the opening but when a low shot would have meant a certain goal he tried to dink it over the keeper and much to my frustration he put it over the bar. Dundalk made several good breaks with McNulty and Hoey holding the midfield together well with Campbell bright on the wing. Melvin and Brady did well but were not unduly overworked and even though Dundalk had the better of the exchanges it was no suprise when the Harps goal came. They stepped it up a gear for a minute or two and a cross from the right went across the goalmouth where it was tapped home by Fergal Harkin. Harte and Brennan came in for Dundalk and did not stop the pressing forward but Dundalk had no good chances at 1-0 and the game filtered away just like so many before have this season. Dundalk's stay in the Premier Division ended when the referee blew the final whistle at 5:04 on Sunday 2nd May 1999. There have been so many more happy days in the first week of May in the past and its memories of these games that spur us on to get back to the summit of Irish football. Its a long hard road but we can get there with a bit of hard work. Down, but not out.
I couldn't give ratings as it was such a pre season type game with little or no significance, only the fact that Dundalk have lost their last 8 games and have not won in their last 10. Melvin, Brady, McNulty and Hoey all did not dampen their reputations.