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This was a thoroughbred start to the season at the Showgrounds, a lively affair between two teams that seem poised for plenty of entertainment this season.
It could be argued that the tie that followed was a fair result in the sense that both teams squandered opportunities to take all three points. But after slow starts in each half, it was Sligo Rovers that finished much stronger, with the Dundalk bench cheering as they lost their way and rode their luck in the fourth quarter. Substitute Mark Byrne thought he had won it for the hosts, but an offside flag ruined the youngster’s moment.
Unsurprisingly, after scrutiny over his recent reorganization of positions to comply with professional license rules, it was Coach Filippo Giovagnoli, rather than Manager Designated Shane Keegan, who barked instructions and paraded down the bench for the commercial ending of this game after the game. Tide turned against his side of Dundalk.
This is the serious matter, after all.
And there was plenty for the Dundalk staff to ponder on their way home. It is very early, of course, and the attempt to establish understanding in a changed dressing room will be affected by the fact that Latvian full-back Raivis Jurkovskis and Faroe Islands defender Sonni Nattestad will now go on international duty and miss the match. next week with Finn Harps.
The guests got off to a good start here, and had another spell on top after the break, but they were stretched by the movement of Liam Buckley’s attacking players. After recovering from a terrible start to qualify for Europe last period, the evidence of this performance suggests that they are ready for another strong campaign.
Dundalk tuned in early on, pressing hard and high and forcing mistakes from his hosts. He gave them an early lead with midfielder Greg Sloggett pressuring Greg Bolger when he received an unconvincing backward pass from goalkeeper Ed McGinty and created a fumble that was gleefully picked up and converted by Patrick McEleney.
It seemed to be a declaration of intent. But they were turned off as the Rovers stepped up things and warning signals were delivered before the EQ. Jamaican forward Romeo Parkes, who has returned for a second season in the west, soared higher to dispatch a Robbie McCourt free kick past Alessio Abibi.
Fixed parts concessions were a problem for Dundalk last term, so this was a bad start in that regard.
Much of the preseason excitement at The Showgrounds has centered around the appearance of young forward Johnny Kenny, the son of the Bit’O’Red legend of the same name.
The Leaving Cert student was given the responsibility of leading the line with Parkes and Jordan Gibson on either side and he handled well against seasoned opponents, threatening a right foot after an excellent first touch.
Both sides squandered better opportunities to take an interval lead with Gibson hitting the post after a good team play driven by Parkes before Dundalk’s Pat Hoban fired wide after McGinty found himself in no-man’s-land.
It was an entertaining fare, with Giovagnoli becoming more prominent on the sideline as the half progressed, especially when Dundalk briefly seemed forced to be forced into a shakeup when Daniel Cleary fell injured but the center half kept playing.
And the Lilywhites escalated things for a while with Hoban directing a header before another came off the post with McGinty beaten.
However, Rovers responded impressively and sported the sharper side in the final stages, with Gibson denied by Abibi after a mazy run and Kenny escaping two shots that were blocked with the last effort made by Byrne via a pass from. David Cawley but the linesman flag. interrupt the celebrations. The final whistle provided relief for one side of Dundalk against the ropes.
Online editors
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