EIRCOM LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

4th February

Limerick 1

CON COLLINS 75

Dundalk 3

TONY IZZI 30

PAUL CAMPBELL 62

DEREK THORNTON 82

Dundalk added to last weeks win in Cobh with another vital win in this rescheduled match against Limerick in Hogan Park. This moves Dundalk back ahead of Kilkenny and into third place in what is building up into a thrilling race for promotion. Limerick are bottom of the League but held Kilkenny to a 0-0 draw here two weeks ago and had defeated the Lilywhites here earlier in the season so it was always going to be a difficult venue to try and take all three points from.

John Whyte made a welcome return to the Dundalk side for last nights match. He replaced the injured Padraig Staunton. Elswhere, player and position wise the visitors were unchanged. In truth, despite an early shot by Derek McCarthy who was the player who orchestrated Dundalk's downfall the last time the Lilywhites came to Limerick, the visitors never really looked in any great danger and a win always looked likely.

The best early chance for Dundalk came when David Ward flashed a left footed shot over the bar after a cross from Paddy Quinn. There was little incident after that until 22 minutes when Dundalk were denied a clear penalty. Paul Campbell started the move when he hit a wonderful ball in behind the Limerick defence to David Hoey who looked to be clearly pulled down by a Limerick defender when lining up the shot however the referee who did not endear himself to any of the Dundalk following on the night waved away the protests. However a Dundalk goal was not far away. John Whyte, who struggled early on but eventually coped with the pace of the game, crossed on the half hour mark to David Ward whose header fell into the path of Tony Izzi who composed himself from 8 yards before firing past Jimmy Fyffe in the Lmierick goals. After that, the rest of the first half was all Dundalk although it looked as though a second goal would be needed to wrap it up. It could have come before half time after a marvellous run from the on song David Ward which saw him take it past three players and release David Hoey who made the run forward from midfield into the penalty area but could not get sufficient power on the shot to put it past Jimmy Fyffe. Noel Melvin and Paul Whelan marshalled the defence well during the closing period of the half which meant all the play was in the Limerick half.

The second half started nervously for Dundalk and a terrible defensive mix up almost put Limerick in front after 50 minutes when three Dundalk players all missed a left wing corner in the air and it fell to Tommy Lynch however the Limerick player manager dragged his shot wide of the goal from 12 yards. John Flanagan and David Hoey began to get a grip of the game in midfield after this and Paul Campbell was also doing well on the right. Paddy Quinn again caused some problems on the left wing and he assisted Dundalk's second goal on 62 minutes. After a clearance from defence Dundalk won possession in the Limerick half and Quinn found time to hook the ball from one side of the pitch to the other and into the path of Paul Campbell 20 yards from goal. The Dublin based midfielder let the ball bounce and then fired an unstoppable 20 yard shot past Jimmy Fyffe and into the top corner of the net. Tony Izzi could have made it three soon after when he turned a Quinn cross over the crossbar. However it was looking comfortable for the visitors and therefore they were rocked when Limerick got a goal back on 75 minutes. Con Collins picked the ball up 25 yards out and after finding space for a shot fired the ball past Connolly to give Limerick a lifeline. It was a well taken goal by the defender. A Limerick fightback could have occurred at this juncture but Dundalk didn't give them the chance to equalise and although Limerick were lifted for a brief five minute spell it never looked like reaping rewards. Derek Thornton came on for Dundalk to make his debut and replaced Paddy Quinn. Within a few minutes the midfielder on loan from Drogheda was to score a debut goal. However it came about after another brilliant run by David Ward. He outpaced Tommy Lynch after picking the ball up just inside the Limerick half. He continued his run and laid the ball into the path of Tony Izzi who should have scored from 8 yards but Fyffe blocked his shot but only into the path of Thornton who followed up well to tap the ball over the line from 2 yards. The final ten minutes or so were pretty ragged and mistakes were common as the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion.

This game was not helped by erratic refereeing. Too many cards were dished out in a game that lacked any real malice. Dundalk will take comfort from the comphrehensive victory. Tony Izzi and David Ward again pleasingly linked up well. Izzi did not look fully fit and will benefit from rest before the Bray match. Ward was Dundalk's best attacker and caused numerous problems for Tommy Lynch and the Limerick defence. Flanagan and Hoey steadied the ship in midfield while either side Quinn and Campbell did well, especially the latter. Whelan and especially Melvin were solid enough in the centre of defence and despite a shaky first half, both Whyte and Crawley recovered to play better in the second half. Thornton was not involved for long enough to make a lasting impression but did do well to follow up for the third goal

It now seems like Dundalk's next match will be away to Bray next Friday. The Lilywhites will obviously be better prepared for this game after coming off two important victories on the road. After the defeat against Monaghan these two trips were always going to be make or break as far as Dundalk's promotion chances went. Tony Izzi again came up trumps with the vital opener and hopefully he can continue in this rich vein of form. If Ward can repeat the same performance next week against Bray then maybe the Lilywhites can earn a result in Wicklow. What is sure however, is that the race for promotion is now really beginning to hot up and contrary to the opinions of some sceptics two weeks ago, Dundalk are definitely going to be involved at the end of the season.

DUNDALK FC

1 John Connolly 6

2 John Whyte 7

3 David Crawley 7

4 David Hoey 7

5 Paul Whelan 7

6 Noel Melvin 8

7 John Flanagan 7

8 Paul Campbell 8

9 David Ward 8

10 Tony Izzi 7

11 Paddy Quinn 7

SUBS

15 Derek Thornton 6 for Quinn