DUNDALK F.C FAN CAM Shelbourne 1-3 Dundalk 15/3/2013

Dundalk came from behind to beat Shelbourne 3-1 at Tolka Park on Friday night thanks to a rousing second half comeback. Dundalk had fallen behind just before half-time after a Dean Kelly header. However, Dundalk fought back superbly to earn the first league win of the Stephen Kenny era thanks to a 54th minute penalty from John Dillon (pictured) and late goals from captain Stephen O'Donnell and substitute John Mountney.
Stephen Kenny made just one change from the team that drew 0-0 with Shamrock Rovers seven days previously with the suspended Dane Massey replaced by Eoghan Osborne. Dundalk had the first real chance of the match when Patrick Hoban found space on the edge of the box but his shot went wide. After Peter Cherrie made a comfortable save from Kelly, Hoban had a goal ruled out for offside after 17 minutes. Shels keeper Niall Burdon, who kept his place in the Shels goal ahead of Ger Hanley after his superb performance in Oriel Park last Monday, continued his good form and had to be sharp to deny Kurtis Byrne after 38 minutes.
Dundalk picked up three yellow cards with Stephen O'Donnell, John Dillon and Eoghan Osborne entering the book -- before Shels made the breakthrough -- slightly against the run of play. Peter Cherrie was given no chance when Mark Leech's cross was headed past him by Kelly from close range.
Dundalk reacted positively at the start of the second half although Shels could have extended their lead had Philly Hughes kept his shot on target in the 47th minute. A key moment in the game arrived five minutes later when Hughes showed some of his old magic to send a terrific shot from outside the box towards goal -- but Cherrie made an oustanding save.
Withing a minute of this incident, Dundalk won a penalty. Ian Ryan's poor challenge on Keith Ward was an obvious penalty kick -- and John Dillon scored his first Dundalk goal by sending Burdon the wrong way from the spot.
Both sides had periods of dominance in the second half. Dundalk tried to freshen their attack by introducing Vinny Faherty for Hoban, Darren Meenan for Ward and John Mountney for Dillon. In the final ten minutes, Bryne went very close to giving Dundalk the lead but his shot hit the bar, before Graham Gartland was sent-off after receiving his second yellow card following a challenge on O'Donnell.
Dundalk were able to capitalise on the numerical advantage when they took the lead on 86 minutes when O'Donnell got on the end of a Meenan cross to head past Burdon. Dundalk kept possession superbly for the remainder of the match and, after Fa wrapped up the points when John Mountney found himself clear and slotted the ball past Burdon to make it 3-1 at the final whistle. Dundalk's first win in the Premier League in Tolka Park since 1999!
Shelbourne: Burdon, Cornwall, Shortall, Gartland, Ryan, Brennan, Hanlon, Bayley, Leech, Kelly, Hughes. Subs: Hurley for Brennan, Mooney for Kelly,
Dundalk: Cherrie, Sullivan, Osborne, Rossiter, Boyle, O'Donnell, Ward, Towell, Dillon, Hoban, Byrne. Subs: Faherty for Hoban, Meenan for Ward, Mountney for Dillon