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Dundalk’s new manager, Filippo Giovagnoli, marked his first league match in charge with a close win over Shelbourne at Oriel Park.
The Italian was in dreamland when his team took a two-goal lead in just 11 minutes thanks to goals from Michael Duffy and Brian Gartland.
However, that dream turned into a nightmare for Vinny Perth’s replacement, as a header from Dan Byrne and a penalty from Georgie Poynton brought Shelbourne back to level terms in the 24th minute.
In the end, the reigning league champions could not be denied their first league win in 190 days, however a bolt from Greg Sloggett just before the hour mark ensured that Giovagnoli became the first head of Dundalk since Ian Foster in March 2010 to earn his first victory. league match in charge.
The home team flew out of the trap with Michael Duffy giving them a lead in the fourth minute with what was his 50th goal in the SSE Airtricity League. The winger was allowed to cut the left hand touchline too easily on his right foot and punished Shels for his complacency with a thunderous shot to the upper right corner that didn’t give Colin McCabe a chance.
With seven minutes it was 2-0 with Brian Gartland heading into the net off a Stefan Colovic corner kick for what was the 50th goal of his career.
To their credit, the visitors did not allow their heads to drop and after Dayle Rooney had approached moments earlier, they retired at 20 minutes. Former Lilywhite Georgie Poynton’s free throw was caught by Dan Byrne, who sent a bullet header past Aaron McCarey.
Ian Morris’s team was tied four minutes later when it was determined that Gartland had pushed Ciaran Kilduff out of a corner. The decision seemed tough, but Poynton stepped up to send McCarey down the wrong track to make it 2-2.
Sean Murray and Ryan Brennan had efforts at both ends after that before Dundalk approached again within three minutes of the restart when a Colovic cross from the left was met by Duffy’s outstretched leg, who couldn’t get enough to lead it. towards the target.
However, the lead was restored in the 59th minute, when Greg Sloggett took Sean Quinn’s pocket before sending a lightning bolt into the upper right corner past McCabe from 25 yards.
Once again, Shelbourne refused to throw in the towel and after substitute Karl Sheppard turned down a good chance for a free header, they came close again in the 67th minute when a Gary Deegan cross hit Sean Hoare in Luke’s way. Byrne only for the defender to be left behind. Denied point-blank for one last gasp Darragh Leahy’s intervention.
Dundalk were looking to finish the game themselves and could have done so in the 77th minute, when the ball outside Gartland’s defense was thrown over the head of Sean Murray to put Daniel Kelly in goal, but it was missed.
Kelly nearly became Sean Gannon’s supplier six minutes later when he drifted from the left towards his substitute teammate only for the full rear to brush his shot with the left foot allowing McCabe to save.
There was a late push from the visitors, but his best chance was Dan Byrne slipping out of a corner in injury time as Dundalk endured his first win since the league restart in late July.
Dundalk: Aaron McCarey; Sean Hoare, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Darragh Leahy; Chris Shields, Greg Sloggett; Stefan Colovic (Daniel Kelly 60), Sean Murray (John Mountney 82), Michael Duffy (Sean Gannon 82); David McMillan (Nathan Oduwa 75).
Unused subs: Gary Rogers, Will Patching, Joshua Gatt.
Shelbourne: Colin McCabe; Georgie Poynton, Alex O’Hanlon, Luke Byrne, Daniel Byrne; Gary Deegan (Oscar Brennan 87), Sean Quinn; Denzil Fernandes (Karl Sheppard 63), Ryan Brennan (Mark Byrne 63), Dayle Rooney (Jaze Kabia 76); Ciaran Kilduff (Aaron Dobbs 87).
Unused subs: Jack Brady, Daniel O’Reilly.
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