ACADEMY: WEEKEND ROUND-UP: JULY 31ST
All six of our academy sides were in action at the weekend with our MU15 team producing a wonderful display in their Michael Hayes Cup tie against Shelbourne.
Shelbourne 2-3 Dundalk FC MU15
Shaun Platt was the hero as our MU15 team booked their place in the next round of the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Michael Hayes Cup after a fantastic 3-2 win over Shelbourne at the AUL on Saturday.
TJ Molloy put the lads in front with just a minute on the clock but Shels moved 2-1 ahead thanks to a brace from Kevin Madu before the half-hour.
The Lilywhites responded brilliantly, however, and Savage looked like he had taken the game to extra time when he levelled matters in the 86th minute.
Dundalk sensed an opportunity, however, and they were rewarded when Platt struck a last-minute winner to spark scenes of jubilation amongst the travelling contingent.
The lads return to league action this weekend when they travel to Longford on Bank Holiday Monday.
DUNDALK FC MU15: Shayne O’Byrne, Michael Cummins, Calum Woods, Jordan Vocella, Ethan Deegan, Shaun Platt, Shea Savage, Ryan Campbell, TJ Molloy, Pauric Maguire, Robert Cotter. Subs: Aaron O’Donoghue (GK), Luke Cullen, Adam Zivkovic.
Dundalk FC MU20 1-2 UCD
There was late heartbreak for our MU20 side against UCD at Oriel Park on Saturday as a last-gasp penalty saw the visitors advance in the Enda McGuill Cup.
The Lilywhites started brightly and Conall Alfred was unlucky not to open the scoring when he weaved his way inside the UCD penalty area only to see his effort saved by the legs of Fintan Agnew.
Muhammad Haris was also denied by the UCD netminder but Dundalk got the goal they deserved when Luke Mulligan pounced on a breaking ball on the edge of the box and he made no mistake with 24 minutes played.
The Students, who also knocked Dundalk out of the competition in 2023, equalised on the hour mark through Stephen Mohan and there were no further goals in the regulation 90 minutes.
Both sides cancelled each other out in extra-time but, just as it looked like a shootout would be needed to separate them, UCD hit the killer blow when Roy Lawlor scored a 118th-minute penalty to end Dundalk’s involvement in the competition for another year.
The lads are back in action on August 10th when they make the trip north to face Derry City in Tier Two North.
DUNDALK FC MU20: Samuel Safaie, Luke Povall, Sean Keogh, Vincent Leonard, Sean Spaight, Scott Brady, Conor O’Gorman, Luke Mulligan, Muhammad Haris, Fionn McNamara, Conall Alfred. Subs: Graham Dooner (GK), Davin O’Connor, Callum Bonny, Cameron Hamilton, Tom McLoughlin, Jack O’Malley, Benjamin Fagbeni.
Dundalk FC WU17 1-0 Finn Harps
Meena McConell’s goal was enough to give our WU17 team all three points in their EA SPORTS LOI Academy Tier Two North fixture with Finn Harps at Oriel Park on Saturday.
McConnell collected Molly Gordon’s assist and fired past Rhianna Doherty on the hour mark to ensure the girls bounced back from their opening-day loss to Galway United in style.
DUNDALK FC WU17: Emalie McDonald, Jessica Cox, Aoife Fanning, Wendy Benedo, Siun Kirby, Meena McConnell, Erin Shannon, Naomi Dowd, Shauna Smyth, Molly Gordon, Sarah Burke. Subs: Jennifer Freeman, Kelly Leddy, Naoise Smyth, Abbie Shiels, Amelia Cassidy, Ciara Brady.
Dundalk FC WU19 0-1 DLR Waves
Our WU19 team slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to DLR Waves in their opening game of the Tier Two North section with Aisling Meehan scoring the only goal of the game after 56 minutes.
The girls are back in action on August 11th when they made the trip west to play Sligo Rovers.
DUNDALK FC WU19: Eden Naughton Tyler, Abigail Martin, Laura Woods, Zara Farrell, Sarah Byrne, Aleesha Smith Palanzuela, Ella McKenna, Ruth Leahy, Stephanie Cunningham, Moya Bishop, Jodie McQuillan. Subs: Toyah Hennessy (GK), Kelly Pease, Jennifer Freeman, Shauna Smyth, Erin Shannon, Wendy Benedo, Isabella Chambers, Siun Kirby.
EA SPORTS LOI MU14 Academy Development Day
Our MU14 side took part in the EA SPORTS LOI Academy Development Day at FAI HQ in Abbotstown on Sunday, playing against Bohemians and Cork City.
Over 220 players from 11 clubs took part in 15 matches which were played in front of hundreds of spectators.
Bray Wanderers 2-0 Dundalk FC MU17
Our MU17 team’s hopes of Mark Farren Cup glory came to an end in Ballycorus on Sunday as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bray Wanderers.
Alain Kizenga gave the hosts a valuable lead just before the break and although Dundalk pushed hard for an equaliser, Billy O’Neill put the result beyond doubt in the final minute.
DUNDALK FC MU17: Aaron O’Donoghue, Alex Gaughran, Karl Stenson Browne, Jay Madigan, Roan Hickey, Shay Casey, Fahd Nil Monney, Stephen Brady, Aaron Donnelly, Cian Spaight, Nico Lovrekovic. Subs: TJ Molloy, Shayne O’Byrne, Pauric Maguire, Shay Hoey, Oisin Smyth, Jordan Vocella.
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