It will be Dundalk v Cork City in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final for the third successive year. The Lilywhites booked their place in the November showpiece with a well-merited 4-2 extra time win in a hugely entertaining semi-final replay at a w
It will be Dundalk v Cork City in the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup final for the third successive year.
The Lilywhites booked their place in the November showpiece with a well-merited 4-2 extra time win in a hugely entertaining semi-final replay at a windy Tallaght Stadium.
After a typically impressive opening to the match by Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers took the lead against the run of play in the 10th minute. David Webster floated a long free kick into the Dundalk box. Rovers’ skipper Ronan Finn was quickest to react to the breaking ball and his cross shot beat Gary Rogers and nestled in the bottom right corner of the net.
Dundalk wasted no time in restoring parity. Sean Gannon found some space on the right in the 13th minute and his deep cross was headed neatly home at the far post by Dundalk’s leading marksman David McMillan.
Tomer Chencinski in the home goal may feel he should have done better. Dundalk were in irresistible form immediately after half time and deservedly took a 54th minute lead. A Jamie McGrath corner from the left was headed on by Sean Hoare.
A static Hoops defence were slow to react and Benson tapped the ball over the line. Dundalk could and should have been out of sight but Rovers persistence paid off in the 85th minute. Gary Shaw linked up with Trevor Clarke on the left. Clarke’s splendid cross was superbly met by Michael O’Connor. The substitute’s header arrowed into Gary Rogers’ net to force extra time.
Rovers appeared to have the momentum in the first extra period, forcing a number of corners before an unseemly fracas just before the break. However, two brilliant goals in six second half minutes killed the Rovers challenge.
First, David McMillan swivelled in the box to drive in a 108th minute Shane Grimes cross. Then tireless skipper Stephen O’Donnell got on the end of a long-range Sean Hoare free kick to loop a header past Chencinski.
