It’s been four years, five months and twenty four days since Chris Shields last scored a league goal for Dundalk. Such is the rarity of his goal scoring prowess, that his wife Shauna until last night had not seen him score a goal since he joined th
It’s been four years, five months and twenty four days since Chris Shields last scored a league goal for Dundalk.
Such is the rarity of his goal scoring prowess, that his wife Shauna until last night had not seen him score a goal since he joined the Lilywhites in 2012. All that changed when much to the disbelief of almost everyone in Oriel Park last night when a seemingly tame cross shot snuck its way into the back post evading Kevin Horgan and into the Shamrock Rovers goal.
“I’ll definitely take it, its been a long time coming since I scored in a league game and thankfully it was a decider what turned out to be a tough game in the end” responded Shields following last nights game.
“I was actually disappointed because I scuffed the cross and then I just seen it trickle towards the back post and I think it was a mix up between their keeper and their centre half, it bounced off the post and I was one happy man.”
Like Shields this season the industrious midfield in place at Dundalk saw another unsung hero Robbie Benson, who was the man of the match last night get the vital opener following some clever link up play with Pat Hoban.
“He deserved a goal at the end of the play, it was good because goals are a big part of his game and he got a goal that deserved his performance as well.”
While tonights performance was good with the Lilywhites leading the table for the first time since October 2016, Dan Carr’s effort meant Dundalk’s eight-league game clean sheet streak came to an end.
“It wasn’t going to go on forever,” reflected Shields. “We are disappointed a bit to concede such a sloppy goal, we pride ourselves on setting up right from set pieces so to concede a goal in that matter, it kind of puts pressure on us going into the last few minutes but thankfully we dug in and saw the game out.”
“We have gone top tonight and that was our plan to keep going so, its the big plan now to stay there.”
In football, while winning games is a habit sometimes you also need that little bit luck. Lady luck shined on Chris Shields tonight and its something he hopes will continue for this Dundalk side.
“It happens in football and its good to get it when we are getting it because it can avoid us now for the foreseeable future so its nice to get that rub of the green. Its always nice when it happens because we are doing everything else to try and win and that wee bit of luck is helping us.”
