Oriel Park, home of Dundalk FC based in County Louth, Ireland and play their trade in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Railwaymen” due to the club’s history formerly known as Dundalk GNR with the GNR standing for “Great Northern Railway”.
It’s second place Shelbourne away to Dundalk and I’ll be joining Darragh and friends on the coach once again hoping for more luck than what we got against Sligo Rovers 3 weeks ago.
So it’s back over to Dublin for the third time this year via Holyhead ferry port. A few Guinness’s later and it’s time to head over to Tolka Park and the Coldplay concert at Croke Park certainly isn’t helping matters…
Finally here and so is Darragh and friends! Off we go! 1 hour later and here we are at Oriel Park! €12 for this game! Spectacular! The atmosphere is building nicely for this game and out come the teams! But first we pay tribute to the late Jim McLaughlin who was a Dundalk legend with a minute’s applause.
Kick Off! 4 minutes in and Shelbourne hit it forward, keeper comes for it… It’s loose and here’s Aiden O’Brien… WHO PLACES IT HOME!! WHAT A START FOR SHELS!!! That should kill the nerves! 0-1!
“Sha la la lalalala! OH THE SFC!” Shels fans in fine voice now! A quiet first half with both teams shutting each other out well.
41 minutes now and Coote is played through in the box and he’s in… Good challenge there to stop what would’ve been a certain goal! At half time, Shels remain a goal to the good.
Second half, Dundalk are growing in this game and it’s looking like it could be a nervy ending for the Shels fans… “Ally Ally Shelbourney!” It’s not stopping them cheering their team on though!
66th minute and Shelbourne get the ball into the box in towards O’Brien with the header… It’s off the line and cleared but only to Coote with the volley… Over!
79th minute now and Dundalk are growing in confidence and chasing the equaliser, they get the ball into the box towards O’Kane who volleys at goal… OFF THE POST! Shels clear. Heart in your mouth moment for Shels there!
6 minutes of added time much to the dismay of the Shels fans… Where have they come from?
93rd minute and Dundalk play down the right, it’s crossed in, Dundalk header… OH! IT’S OFF THE LINE! So close for Dundalk!
97th minute and we’re still playing… BUT NOT ANY MORE! Shelbourne hold on for the win!! “He’s in your head! In your head! Duffer! Duffer!”
FT: Dundalk 0-1 Shelbourne
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – Shels fans amazing once again! Went through the motions as you do in a game like that but they were fantastic again! Dundalk fans I did expect more from…
- The Ground: 9/10 – Great ground! Bags of character! Could be argued that the 3G pitch let’s it down a bit perhaps? The main stand is unique and the opposite stand is good too. It has unique features with seats and terracing at either side of the stands although the seats in the away end have seen better days. For me, just behind the away end goal seems to be a bit wasted, they should put something there to improve it!
- Expense: 10/10 – €12 for this game is a bargain!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Loved it! Thank you Shels once again!
39/40