22nd April
What a gut wrenching night. After 73 years of Premier Division football we did not go down all guns blazing, there was barely even a whimper from Dundalk who folded against UCD. There was never any belief on the pitch that we would win. We could have lost 6,7 even 8 nil. We created one chance in 90 minutes, we didn't deserve to win, we didn't deserve to stay up. Selling your best players, picking the wrong team, making the wrong additions, all of these are factors which have seen us sink to the obscurity and anonymity of Division One. Tom McNulty, Jim McLaughlin and Tommy Connolly and the majority of the fans there have seen the highs with Dundalk. What must they have thought when the whistle went. It's one thing losing a Cup final but to lose your Premier Division status is something else, a feeling I will never forget, especially when I've grown up with success and almost an arrogance that being Dundalk the next trophy will be on its way soon. A season with more twist and turns than your average Grand Prix has came to a Shakesperean tragedy type of finish with an empire and institution falling. Doubtless, many of last nights team will never play in Oriel Park again. Jim McLaughlin will not manage a team from that dugout again.
Dundalk lined out in a traditional 4-4-2 formation. Thew was out so Brennan came in while Harte was replaced by Fortune. Brennan played at right back with Reddish in the centre beside Melvin. Hoey and Ward played up front with Martin on the left wing, Dundalk not utilising their resources fully, missing the drive from midfield from Hoey and the pace and trickery of Martin up front. UCD lined out in a 4-4-2 but overran Dundalk on every area of the pitch, the game was so one sided that even the most optimistic of Dundalk supporters would have to admit that this current bunch is just not good enough. Mick O Byrne headed wide of an open goal early on while soon after Dundalk man Ciaran Kavanagh missed a sitter from 6 yards. Maybe it was our night, maybe not. Dundalk spurned a glorious chance midway through the half when David Crawleys driven free kick was fumbled by Ryan at the feet of John Brennan who hit the bar from 2 yards. Possibly the only chance that was harder to miss than score, most of the crowd would have scored it, even Jim. That was it as far as attacking went for Dundalk. Instead UCD lifted their game after a momentary lapse and piled on the pressure again. Chances came and went with Bennis and O' Byrne off target in goalscoring positions. Dundalk were doing the stupid thing, hammering it up into the air, which was meat and drink for gargantuan UCD defender Clive Delaney whose legs are taller than our strikers.
Into the second half Dundalk came out with no fire, no determination and plenty of mistakes . Soupy was dribbling on the spot while gaps started to appear at the back. Ward had a snap shot but apart from that his performance could be described as muted. Martin could not get a kick on the left while Hoey was completely lost up front. Fortune trotted around the pitch while Tom enjoyed kicking all the UCD players, the ball was struck by his foot occasionally. UCD had to score and after a ball up field by Delaney along the ground all the Dundalk players left it to each other, this Carry On Defending reprise let in Mick O Byrne who danced past a couple of hapless Dundalk defenders before drilling it past Williams. Going 1-0 down meant it was time for subs, Harte and McGinnity replacing Martin and Fortune. Martin having not got the chance to play up front the whole evening. Instead we were left with Dundalk's equivalent to Morecambe and Wise, Ward and McGinnity. Hoey came back to midfield but made no difference because the damage was done, our current line up could not score twice if the UCD goals stretched all the way across the pitch so the chances of scoring into standard nets were slim. Dundalk never came close, not even close. They played brutal and got what they deserved, when Eoin Bennis rammed the ball into the back of the net after some good football to secure UCD's Premier status the heads went down and some fans left, possibly never to return. The players trudged disconsolately off the pitch, apart from Ward and McGinnity who were having a nice conversation, possibly discussing their arrangements for next season. I hear Fergal Quinn needs two grocery boys. You had to feel sorry for the triers like McNulty and Reddish and Williams, the latter two are happy in Dundalk but First Division wages will not be enough to make a decent living and they will probably leave.
Dundalk FC has never been so low, I have never felt so low, behind all the anguish and in some cases tears is reality. Dundalk FC made this mess, they have treated their fans terribly and dragged us through the muck. The board members and the players can walk away and find careers and find work elsewhere but the fans are left behind, as is the history of this great club. Memories like the 3 late goals against Derry 10 years ago, McNulty's winner in Cork, standing on the pitch in 95 waiting for the whistle to blow in Athlone, memories cherished and never to be forgotten. I just wished I had enjoyed 95 more, it could be a long time before scenes like that occur in Oriel again