Daniel Kelly continued his recent love affair of scoring against Waterford FC as his first half strike was good enough to give Dundalk FC a massive three points in their bid to retain the SSE Airtricity Premier Division after this latest win at the RSC last night.
Kelly, who netted a hat-trick between the two sides in the cup quarterfinal at the same venue earlier in the month, finished a Pat Hoban cross to the net with the Blues left fuming that referee Derek Tomney didn’t award a free in the build-up, a decision that was later backed by up by television replays.
With the Blues passing the ball around the manicured RSC pitch with great confidence, they had a good chance to take the lead on 12 minutes when Tom Holland picked out the run of Michael O’Connor with a brilliant through ball, but despite a poor first touch, the striker got his shot away that was saved by Gary Rogers.
Sam Bone should have done better with a chance that came his way three minutes later when Georgie Poynton whipped in a free kick from the left that found the run of the on-loan Shamrock Rovers player, but he just failed to connect with the ball from close-range.
Matt Connor produced a top save on 25 minutes when Rory Feely was judged to have fouled Jamie McGrath 25-yards from goal, but despite superbly turning Pat Hoban’s resulting free kick around the posts, referee Derek Tomney awarded a goal kick much to the dismay of the Dundalk players.
Cory Galvin was the next player to go close for the home side on the half hour mark when Zack Elbouzedi sent in a cross from the left that saw Michael O’Connor pull the ball back to the edge of the penalty area for the former, but his goalbound effort was deflected over by Dundalk’s Chris Shields.
Michael Duffy went close for the visitors on 34 minutes when he latched onto the ball after Sam Bone’s clearance fell into his path, but he blazed over the bar before Dundalk took the lead under a cloud of controversy four minutes later.
Rob Slevin was involved in a challenge with Pat Hoban out on the right and after going down looking for a free kick referee Tomney waved play on before Hoban skipped clear down the right before crossing for Daniel Kelly and he scored his fourth goal in two games against the Blues when firing past Matt Connor from close-range
A foul on Michael O’Connor by Dundalk midfielder Robbie Benson gave Zack Elbouzedi the chance to test keeper Gary Rogers from a 25-yards free kick on 54 minutes, but the effort from the Irish Under 21 International went over the bar. .
It was Daniel Kelly that could have grabbed a second goal for his side four minutes later when Michael Duffy got free down the left side before setting up the attacker in front of goal, but Blues defender Kevin Lynch was in the right place to block his shot.
In a very disappointing second half, the crowd of 989 had to wait until the 86th minute for the first save of note when Patrick McEleney raced at the Waterford defense before cracking in a shot from 20 yards that Matt Connor saved before the hosts had a big chance at the other end seconds later.
Dean O’Halloran and Walter Figueira combined out on the right-side before the latter pulled the ball back for the inrushing Shane Duggan, who had made a burst into the area, but his right-footed shot was straight at Gary Rogers before Sam Bone has an effort blocked late on as the champions elect held out for another three points.
Waterford FC: Connor, Bone, Feely, Slevin, Lynch, Holland (Duggan `66), Lunney (O’Halloran `79), Poynton, Elbouzedi, Galvin (Figueira `60), O’Connor
Dundalk FC: Rogers, Gannon, Shields, Boyle, Jarvis, Cleary, McGrath, Benson (Murray ‘85), Duffy, D. Kelly (McEleney `79), Hoban (G. Kelly ‘89)
Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin)
