23rd August
Dundalk made it three out of three draws and three out of three bad performances after a 1-1 draw with Monaghan at Oriel Park today. Watching St.Pats manager Pat Dolan must have gone away safe in the knowledge that this Dundalk team will pose no problems for Pats this year. From the outset you had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. Brian Byrne missed out again and Lee Thew was caught in traffic which saw him miss the match eventually coming on as sub when he arrived. Mick Doohan was sick and Peter Withnell was also out. David Crawley had to retire injured in the first half which must be another concern for Jim McLaughlin and Tommy Connolly.
Monaghan had ex-Dundalk players Bobby Browne and Ricky McEvoy on show as well as Joe Hanrahan who played the mandatory 45 minutes before retiring with an injury. Chris Hammon and David Ward again linked up unsuccessfully up front. Both had chances in the first half. Hammon heading wide from a Reddish cross and Ward after being put through was stopped by a sliding tackle from Paul Brady. David Hoey was bright for Dundalk but his touch around goal was clumsy. Paudie Gollogly and Kevin Brady teamed up for Dundalk in defence for the first time and it did not look a secure unit while Shane Reddish put in a solid display capped off with some fine crosses. Before half time David Crawley came off injured and was replaced by Paul Carlyle.
The second half begun with Ray Campbell and David Hoey becoming more prominent for Dundalk. Both came close on seperate occasions while David Ward also had a chance saved. On the day Ward's first touch let him down and he failed to link well with either his strike partner or the rest of his team mates. When a free kick was given away by Dundalk on 64 minutes after a Monaghan break away confusion reigned. The free kick was curled in by Ricky McEvoy and Paul Brady scored with a free header. A deserted Oriel Park was quieter now than before with the claps of the Monaghan bench the only sound. The Monaghan number 12 had several chances and was very impressive on the whole. Dundalk introduced Lee Thew and he made no great impression and did not venture forward often. He needs a whole game to adjust and what better oppourtunity than against his former club on Thursday.
Dundalk were wearing an unfamiliar red strip and it was the visitors in the white shirts who were in command but when players have the commitment of Ray Campbell anything is possible. Chasing a lost cause he got to the ball before the touchline after being given a five yard start by a monaghan defender. He managed to divert the ball to the edge of the penalty box where David Hoey got a free run through and blasted it past the Monaghan keeper. Suprisingly Dundalk did not press forward after this with any effect and Monaghan had three great chances to take the game. All fell to their substitute, the first was saved well by Williams, the second stopped by a superb David Hoey challenge and the third he headed over from 6 yards with no-one in the goals. An early contender for miss of the season The game ended 1-1 with Dundalk bowing out of the cup. Serious questions must be asked before putting this team into the real business of the league which starts on Thursday against Sligo Rovers
Ray Campbell's contribution in the goal was significant and Shane Reddish was OK. The rest were poor apart from David Hoey who took his goal well and made a fine challenge late on to save Dundalk from humiliation. He gets my vote.