DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL DUNDALK FC vs. SHAMROCK ROVERS FC SETANTA SPORTS CUP Final Saturday 14 May 2011, 6.15pm
Contents 2-5 Match background 13/14 League tables 6 Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers Cup Finals 15/16 League statistics 7 Setanta Sports Cup Top Scorers 17-22 Match-by-match lineups 8 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news 23/24 Team facts 9/10 Squad and management information 25 Head-to-head 11/12 Results & fixtures information This press kit includes information relating to this Setanta Sports Cup match. Match background Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers will meet for the 316th time in competition when they go head-to-head in the Setanta Sports Cup final at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday evening (kick-off 6.15pm). This will be the 11th different competition that the clubs will have met in. The ten to date are: League, FAI Cup, League Cup, Shield, City Cup, Leinster Cup, President s Cup, Top Four Cup, Inter City Cup and Casey Cup. Rovers hold the upper hand with 148 wins to Dundalk s 95, with 72 draws. This will be Dundalk s 45th game in cross-border competition. Before the Setanta Cup, they had also played in the Inter City Cup, North-South Cup, Blaxnit Cup and Tyler Cup. Their only meetings with Shamrock Rovers in those tournaments came in the Inter City Cup, and both were in the final. In 1942, they defeated the Hoops 1-0, before losing the 1949 decider 3-0. Both teams are making their debut in the Setanta Sports Cup this year. Dundalk defeated Linfield (5-3 away, 1-1 home), Glentoran (1-0 away, 1-1 home) and Cliftonville (3-1 away, 2-1 home) to reach this stage of the competition. Rovers had one round less to play, defeating Lisburn Distillery (3-0 away, 4-2 home) and Sligo Rovers (2-0 away, 2-1 home) on their way to this final. Of their seven league defeats on the way to winning the Premier Division title last season, Rovers fell three times at the hands of Dundalk, including twice at Oriel Park. However, in three meetings this term (two league, one Leinster Cup), Rovers have won twice. Back in February, goals in either half from debutant Gary O Neill and Colm Corcoran gave the Hoops a 2-0 win at Oriel Park in the Leinster Cup. The sides also went to battle on the first day of the league season at Tallaght Stadium, but the 23rd-minute sending-off of Peter Cherrie proved the turning point after Dundalk had dominated the opening quarter. Jason Byrne put Dundalk in front from the spot just before half-time but Gary McCabe quickly cancelled out that advantage, with an early second-half double 2
from Gary Twigg seeing the Hoops run out comfortable 3-1 winners. In the most recent meeting, on 2 May, Byrne s 37th-minute penalty cancelled out Karl Sheppard s early opener as the sides played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Oriel Park. Overall, since returning to the Premier Division in 2009, Dundalk have won three, drawn two and lost five of the ten encounters, scoring 16 goals and conceding 20. The clubs have met 173 times in the league, since they first met back on 11 September 1926 when they drew 3-3 in Dublin. Rovers hold the upper hand with 72 wins to Dundalk s 55, with 46 draws, the Louth club scoring 241 goals to the Hoops 295. Interestingly, in Ian Foster s 107 games as a manager between Galway United and Dundalk, Twigg has done the most damage, scoring nine goals against the Liverpudlian s sides. Dundalk s top scorer after 20 competitive games this year is Mark Quigley, with nine goals. In total: 9 Quigley, 6 Daniel Kearns & Byrne, 3 Ross Gaynor, 2 Colin Hawkins & Michael Hector, 1 Shane Guthrie, Johnny Breen & Keith Ward. Rovers top scorer is Sheppard with seven goals. Quigley is joint-top scorer in this season s Setanta Sports Cup with five goals, the same as Cliftonville s George McMullan. Belfast-born Kearns is close behind on four goals, while Sheppard is Rovers top marksman in the tournament with three. 13 different players have scored in all competitions for Rovers, sharing 31 goals, while nine have been on the mark for Dundalk, also sharing 31 goals. This is Dundalk s 21st competitive game of the year with their record reading: P20 W9 D6 L5 F31 A25. It is Rovers 19th match, with their record as follows: P18 W12 D5 L1 F31 A9. Dundalk have been awarded two penalties this season, and have a 100 percent strike rate, Byrne netting away to Rovers on 4 March and at home to the Hoops on 2 May. Rovers have had two spot-kicks, McCabe missing at home to Saint Patrick s Athletic on 18 March, with Dean Kelly converting against the Saints in the League Cup second round. Dundalk have conceded five spot-kicks, including two at home to Glentoran on 21 March and two away to Linfield on 14 February. For Glens, Andrew Waterworth missed the first but Matthew Burrows netted the second. For Linfield, Peter Thompson scored the first but Cherrie saved his second, although Robert Garrett put in the rebound. The other was at home to Galway when Joseph Yoffe scored. 3
Rovers have conceded three penalties Byrne s two and Daniel North s, for St. Pat s in the aforementioned cup tie. Every member of Foster s 19-man senior panel has started a competitive game this year. Rovers have used a total of 30 players this season compared to Dundalk s 22. Captain Simon Madden is the only player to have played every minute of Dundalk s 20 competitive games to date. No player has appeared in all 18 of Rovers games. Cherrie remains the only Dundalk player sent-off this season. Rovers have had two, McCabe against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on 15 April and Ken Oman at home to Sligo Rovers last weekend. Dundalk have four ex-hoops in their ranks Madden, Guthrie, Quigley and Stephen Maher. Rovers have one ex-lilywhite, Chris Turner, while Conor McCormack trained with the Oriel Park club last summer to keep fit during the Italian off season. Dundalk are the only team in the Premier Division that still boast an unbeaten home record, with two wins and four draws from six outings, scoring eight and conceding five. They have also improved their away form lately with three wins on the spin on the road, putting them sixth in the away table, scoring a total of nine and conceding the same amount. Rovers have won four of their five league games at home, losing only to Bray Wanderers, scoring nine and conceding three. Away from Tallaght Stadium, they are unbeaten, with three wins and four draws, scoring eight and conceding two. At the half-time break, Dundalk have been winning three times, drawing seven times and losing twice. The only times they have been behind were away to Derry City, which they lost, and Drogheda United, which they won. Rovers have been ahead five times, level six times and losing once. The only time they have been behind was against Bray at Tallaght Stadium when they went on to lose the game 1-0. In the second half, Dundalk have won four times, drawn six times and lost twice, their losses coming away to Rovers and St. Pat s. The Lilywhites have scored eight of their 17 goals in the second 45 minutes. Rovers have yet to be in a worse position at the end than they were at half-time, as they have won four and drawn eight of their 12 second halves, scoring ten of their 17 goals after the break. Dundalk and Rovers are the joint fourth-highest scorers in the league with 17 goals each, sitting behind Derry (24), St. Pat s (19) and Sligo (18). 4
Rovers have the best defence in the league having conceded just five, while Dundalk are in mid-table having shipped 14. Dundalk have scored in 16 of their 20 games only failing to net against Rovers (in LSC), Bohemians, Derry and Bray. Last weekend, they secured back-to-back clean-sheets for the first time since 21 May last. Altogether, they have kept five clean-sheets. Rovers have scored in 15 of their 18 games, failing to net away to Derry and St. Pat s, and at home to Bray. They have kept ten clean-sheets. Dundalk have done most of their scoring in the league in the 31-45 minute bracket, netting six of their 17 goals in that time. They have also conceded most of their goals in that period, shipping four of their total of 14. Rovers have scored four of their 17 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, while they have conceded two of their five goals in the 31-45 minute bracket, incidentally both those strikes coming from Dundalk. Dundalk s quickest goal this season came when Byrne shot them into a seventhminute lead at home to Sligo on 15 April. Rovers fastest goal came in their second league outing, away to Sligo, when McCabe fired them ahead after six minutes. 5
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers Cup Finals This game will mark the 22nd time that these two clubs have clashed in a competition cup final. The past 21 finals have been spread across six competitions, as follows: FAI Cup (3), League Cup (1), Dublin City Cup (4), Leinster Cup (3), Inter City Cup (2) and President s Cup (8). The first meeting was in the 1928/29 Leinster Cup final and Rovers prevailed in a replay. This was Dundalk s first competition final, in only the club s third League of Ireland season. It s nearly 25 years since the last time these two clubs played in a cup final the President s Cup in the 1987/88 season, when the Hoops won a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw. The 1983/84 City Cup final was also scoreless and Rovers again came out on top on penalties. Dundalk have been successful in eight of these 21 finals, winning four of them by a single goal. Artie Kelly s goal settled the 1941/42 Inter City Cup, Hughie Gannon was the hero of the 1957/58 FAI Cup triumph, Ben Hannigan s 38th-minute strike proved to be a winner in the second replay of the 1967/68 City Cup final, and the 1986/87 League Cup ended up at Oriel Park thanks to a penalty from Martin Murray. In contrast, the other four Dundalk wins have yielded a total of 30 goals! The President s Cup in 1930/31 was Dundalk s first trophy win on a 7-3 scoreline, while another President s Cup win came in 1964/65 by 4-2. Finally, there were two 5-2 wins; in the 1968/69 Dublin City Cup final and in the 1970/71 Leinster Cup final, Liam Tuohy s first Dundalk success. Apart from the 1986/87 League Cup win, that season saw two other final day confrontations, with the Hoops winning the President s Cup and the most important one of the lot, the FAI Cup, emerging victorious by 3-0 and landing their third successive League & Cup Double. Turlough O Connor holds the record for most goals in Dundalk/Rovers finals. He scored two in the 1968/69 City Cup final when Dundalk recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit to give Rovers a 5-2 mauling. Another 5-2 pasting came in the 1970/71 Leinster Cup final, when Turlough s brace was added to by two from Gerry Rogers and one from Tommy McConville. Players with three goals to their names include Joey Donnelly, Gerry McCourt and Paddy Turner. Paddy Turner is the most successful Dundalk player in these 21 clashes, with three winners medals from five cup final appearances. Paddy s wins came in two City Cups (1967/68 and 1968/69) to which he added a Leinster Cup medal in 1970/71. Other players who made five appearances include Fran Brennan (two wins) and Martin Lawlor (one win). Patsy McKeown (two wins), Tommy McConville (two wins) and Alan O Neill (one win) have each featured in four finals. 6
Setanta Sports Cup Top Scorers Player Mark Quigley Club Dundalk Total 5 George McMullan Cliftonville 5 Daniel Kearns Dundalk 4 Karl Sheppard Shamrock Rovers 3 Mark Holland Cliftonville 3 Paddy Kavanagh Shamrock Rovers 2 Gary Liggett Lisburn Distillery 2 Ciarán Kilduff Shamrock Rovers 2 Declan Caddell Crusaders 2 Kieran O Connor Cliftonville 2 Stephen Garrett Cliftonville 2 Ross Gaynor Dundalk 2 Jason Byrne Dundalk 1 Johnny Breen Dundalk 1 Ronan Finn Shamrock Rovers 1 Eoin Doyle Sligo Rovers 1 Billy Dennehy Shamrock Rovers 1 Rory Donnelly Cliftonville 1 Vincent Sweeney Crusaders 1 William Faulkner Crusaders 1 Michael Halliday Crusaders 1 John Magee Crusaders 1 Dermot McVeigh Cliftonville 1 Stephen Rice Shamrock Rovers 1 Dean Kelly Shamrock Rovers 1 Peter Thompson Linfield 1 John Dillon Sligo Rovers 1 John Russell Sligo Rovers 1 Raffaele Cretaro Sligo Rovers 1 Joseph Ndo Sligo Rovers 1 Daryl Horgan Sligo Rovers 1 Robert Garrett Linfield 1 Curtis Allen Linfield 1 Michael Gault Linfield 1 Scott Davidson Lisburn Distillery 1 Gary Browne Lisburn Distillery 1 David McMillan Saint Patrick s Athletic 1 David Mulcahy Saint Patrick s Athletic 1 Kevin Braniff Portadown 1 Keith O Hara Portadown 1 Tim Mouncey Portadown 1 Jordan Baker Portadown 1 Karl Somers Bohemians 1 7
Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Dundalk Last Match: Monday 9 May: Bohemians 0-1 Dundalk (Hawkins 80) Colin Hawkins 80th-minute bullet header gave Dundalk their first win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park in 18 years as they snatched a smash-and-grab 1-0 victory last Monday night. The home side had dominated possession and chances and the Lilywhites had Peter Cherrie, who made a number of fine saves, and Greg Bolger, who made a magnificent goal-line clearance in the second half, to thank for keeping them level. And the Louth club made Bohs pay dear for their misses as Hawkins connected with Bolger s free-kick ten minutes from time to head beyond Chris O Connor. Injury/Disciplinary news Dundalk will again be without Stephen Maher (groin) and Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia). Shane Guthrie returned from a six-game absence when starting against Galway United eight days ago, and got another hour under his belt against Bohemians. Greg Bolger, who had not played since the trip to Saint Patrick s Athletic on 25 March, and Dean Bennett, who had not appeared since the visit of Sligo Rovers on 15 April, made their firstteam comebacks against Bohs, Bolger playing the full 90 minutes and Bennett coming on for the last half-an-hour. Foster has no suspension worries. Miscellaneous Stephen Maher has not appeared since coming on as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat by his former club Saint Patrick s Athletic at Richmond Park on 25 March. Shamrock Rovers Last Match: Monday 9 May: Saint Patrick s Athletic 0-0 Shamrock Rovers Saint Patrick s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers played out a scoreless draw at Richmond Park last Monday evening, with the visitors perhaps the happier with the point. Rovers keeper Alan Mannus made a number of excellent saves, particularly in the first half. Daryl Kavanagh and Derek Doyle were both denied by the ex-linfield netminder, while at the other end, Ronan Finn had the best of the chances for the Hoops. Injury/Disciplinary news Shamrock Rovers will be without midfielder Stephen O Donnell, who remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. The former Galway United star is expected to return to training next week. Gary Twigg, Chris Turner and Craig Sives all came through Wednesday s reserve game against Saint Patrick s Athletic without any complaints and are expected to make the squad. Miscellaneous Rovers captain Dan Murray will celebrate his 29th birthday on Monday, 16 May, while goalkeeper Alan Mannus also turns 29 next Thursday, 19 May. In between, Conor McCormack, who hails from Greenore, just north of Dundalk, celebrates his 21st birthday on Wednesday, 18 May. 8
Squad and management information Dundalk (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Peter Cherrie SCO 01.10.1983 27 18 18 0 0 12 Paul Murphy IRL 28.03.1985 26 3 2 0 0 Defenders 2 Simon Madden IRL 01.05.1988 23 20 20 0 3 3 Eoghan Osborne IRL 25.03.1992 19 3 3 0 0 5 Colin Hawkins IRL 17.08.1977 33 18 17 2 0 6 Michael Hector ENG 19.07.1992 18 11 10 2 0 13 Nathan Murphy IRL 01.11.1992 18 18 17 0 1 15 Shane Guthrie IRL 11.12.1984 26 12 12 1 0 - Cian Byrne IRL 28.08.1993 17 1 1 0 0 - Stephen Hutchinson IRL 03.05.1990 21 0 0 0 0 Midfielders 4 Dean Bennett ENG 13.12.1977 33 8 7 0 1 7 Daniel Kearns IRL 26.08.1991 19 19 17 6 2 8 Stephen Maher IRL 03.03.1988 23 7 2 0 0 11 Ross Gaynor IRL 09.09.1987 23 18 17 3 5 14 Greg Bolger IRL 09.09.1988 22 7 7 0 1 16 Stephen McDonnell IRL 28.03.1992 19 14 12 0 2 17 Keith Ward IRL 12.10.1990 20 18 15 1 1 - Philip Duffy IRL 08.09.1991 19 2 1 0 0 - Chris Kerr IRL 08.06.1991 19 1 1 0 0 Forwards 9 Mark Quigley IRL 27.10.1985 25 20 19 9 3 10 Jason Byrne IRL 23.02.1978 33 18 18 6 3 18 Mark Griffin IRL 16.06.1991 19 5 1 0 0 19 Johnny Breen IRL 25.02.1991 20 11 3 1 0 Management - Ian Foster ENG 11.11.1976 34 - - - - - Darius Kierans IRL 05.06.1979 31 - - - - 9
Squad and management information Shamrock Rovers (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Alan Mannus NIR 19.05.1982 28 14 14 0 0 16 Ryan Thompson JAM 07.01.1985 26 3 3 0 0 - Robert Hughes IRL 17.01.1992 19 1 1 0 0 Defenders 2 Pat Sullivan IRL 30.10.1982 28 16 14 0 3 3 Enda Stevens IRL 09.07.1990 20 15 15 0 1 4 Craig Sives SCO 09.04.1986 25 1 1 0 0 5 Dan Murray ENG 16.05.1982 28 15 15 0 0 13 Pat Flynn IRL 13.01.1985 26 7 5 0 0 17 Ken Oman IRL 29.07.1982 28 14 14 1 0 - Michael Doyle IRL 29.08.1991 19 3 3 0 0 - Seán Gannon IRL 11.07.1991 19 2 1 0 0 - Jack Memery IRL 05.03.1993 18 2 2 0 0 - Jeff Flood IRL 22.02.1991 20 1 0 0 0 Midfielders 6 Stephen Rice IRL 06.10.1984 26 15 11 1 1 7 Gary McCabe IRL 01.08.1988 22 12 10 2 1 8 Stephen O Donnell IRL 15.01.1986 25 4 3 0 2 15 Paddy Kavanagh IRL 29.12.1985 25 12 5 2 0 18 Chris Turner NIR 03.01.1987 24 5 4 1 0 20 Billy Dennehy IRL 17.02.1987 24 14 10 3 4 21 Ronan Finn IRL 21.12.1987 23 15 14 3 4 22 Conor McCormack IRL 18.05.1990 20 10 9 0 2 - Colm Corcoran IRL 13.05.1991 20 3 2 1 0 - Keith Kinsella IRL 13.10.1991 19 0 0 0 0 - Eoin Murray IRL 21.10.1991 19 0 0 0 0 - Seán Byrne IRL 01.11.1992 18 2 2 0 0 - Paul Connolly IRL 24.07.1993 17 2 0 0 0 Forwards 9 Gary Twigg SCO 19.03.1984 27 6 6 4 0 10 Karl Sheppard IRL 14.02.1991 20 13 10 7 1 11 Ciarán Kilduff IRL 29.09.1988 22 17 7 3 0 14 Dean Kelly IRL 18.09.1991 19 9 5 2 0 19 Gary O Neill IRL 30.01.1982 29 13 12 1 3 - Darragh Satelle IRL 22.02.1991 20 1 0 0 0 Management - Michael O Neill NIR 05.09.1969 41 - - - - - Trevor Croly IRL 23.02.1974 37 - - - - 10
Results & fixture information Dundalk (Formline: WLDWWLDDWW) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers SSC 14/02/11 Linfield (A) 5-3 Kearns 31, 66, 92, Quigley 54, 75 LSC 22/02/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) 0-2 SSC 28/02/11 Linfield (H) 1-1 Gaynor 11 League 04/03/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) 1-3 Byrne 44 (pen) SSC 07/03/11 Glentoran (A) 1-0 Quigley 82 League 11/03/11 Galway United (H) 3-2 Quigley 18, Byrne 71, Guthrie 87 League 18/03/11 Bohemians (H) 0-0 SSC 21/03/11 Glentoran (H) 1-1 Gaynor 80 League 25/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 2-3 Quigley 17, 48 League 01/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Gaynor 42, Kearns 45, Byrne 72 SSC 04/04/11 Cliftonville (A) 3-1 Quigley 48, 82, Kearns 73 League 08/04/11 Derry City (A) 0-2 League 15/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 1-1 Byrne 7 SSC 18/04/11 Cliftonville (H) 2-1 Byrne 67, Breen 90+3 League 22/04/11 Drogheda United (A) 2-1 Hawkins 56, Kearns 83 LCup 25/04/11 Monaghan United (A) 1-2 (AET) Ward 21 League 29/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) 0-0 League 02/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) 1-1 Byrne 37 (pen) League 06/05/11 Galway United (A) 3-0 Hector 33, 72, Quigley 42 League 09/05/11 Bohemians (A) 1-0 Hawkins 80 SSC 14/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 20/05/11 UCD (A) League 26/05/11 Derry City (H) League 30/05/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 10/06/11 Drogheda United (H) League 13/06/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 17/06/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 20/06/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 24/06/11 Galway United (H) League 01/07/11 Bohemians (H) League 08/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 15/07/11 UCD (H) League 22/07/11 Derry City (A) League 05/08/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/08/11 Drogheda United (A) League 19/08/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 03/09/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 09/09/11 Galway United (A) League 12/09/11 Bohemians (A) League 23/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 30/09/11 UCD (A) League 08/10/11 Derry City (H) League 15/10/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 21/10/11 Drogheda United (H) League 28/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) 11
Results & fixture information Shamrock Rovers (Formline: LWDWWDWDWD) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers LSC 22/02/11 Dundalk (A) 2-0 O Neill 35, Corcoran 78 League 04/03/11 Dundalk (H) 3-1 McCabe 45, Twigg 50, 56 League 12/03/11 Sligo Rovers (A) 1-0 McCabe 6 SSC 14/03/11 Lisburn Distillery (A) 3-0 Sheppard 35, Kilduff 40, Kelly 67 League 18/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) 2-0 Turner 11, Oman 81 SSC 22/03/11 Lisburn Distillery (H) 4-2 Kilduff 42, Rice 47, Kavanagh 81, 88 League 25/03/11 Derry City (A) 0-0 League 01/04/11 Drogheda United (A) 4-0 Twigg 28, 56, Kilduff 49, Dennehy 73 League 08/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) 0-1 SSC 11/04/11 Sligo Rovers (A) 2-0 Finn 27, Sheppard 58 League 15/04/11 Bohemians (A) 1-1 Finn 90+4 SSC 19/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 2-1 Sheppard 8, Dennehy 25 League 22/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Sheppard 69, Finn 73, Dennehy 83 LCup 25/04/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 1-1 Kelly 58 (pen); Lost 3-1 on penalties League 29/04/11 Galway United (A) 1-0 Sheppard 7 League 02/05/11 Dundalk (A) 1-1 Sheppard 16 League 06/05/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 1-0 Sheppard 35 League 09/05/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 0-0 SSC 14/05/11 Dundalk (H) League 20/05/11 Drogheda United (H) League 26/05/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 31/05/11 Bohemians (H) League 10/06/11 UCD (A) League 13/06/11 Derry City (H) League 17/06/11 Galway United (H) League 21/06/11 Dundalk (H) League 25/06/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 01/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 08/07/11 Derry City (A) League 15/07/11 Drogheda United (A) League 22/07/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 05/08/11 Bohemians (A) League 12/08/11 UCD (H) League 19/08/11 Galway United (A) League 03/09/11 Dundalk (A) League 09/09/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 23/09/11 Derry City (H) League 30/09/11 Drogheda United (H) League 09/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 14/10/11 Bohemians (H) League 21/10/11 UCD (A) League 28/10/11 Galway United (H) 12
League tables Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers 12 7 4 1 17 5 25 2 Derry City 12 7 3 2 24 9 24 3 Sligo Rovers 13 7 2 4 18 8 23 4 Bohemians 13 6 4 3 13 8 22 5 Bray Wanderers 13 6 3 4 15 14 21 6 Saint Patrick s Athletic 12 5 4 3 19 13 19 7 Dundalk 12 5 4 3 17 14 19 8 UCD 13 4 2 7 12 23 14 9 Galway United 13 1 2 10 7 28 5 10 Drogheda United 13 0 2 11 6 26 2 HOME Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Sligo Rovers 6 4 0 2 11 4 12 2 Saint Patrick s Athletic 7 3 3 1 14 8 12 3 Shamrock Rovers 5 4 0 1 9 3 12 4 Derry City 6 3 2 1 12 2 11 5 Dundalk 6 2 4 0 8 5 10 6 Bray Wanderers 7 3 1 3 8 8 10 7 UCD 6 3 0 3 7 7 9 8 Bohemians 6 1 2 3 3 6 5 9 Drogheda United 7 0 2 5 4 14 2 10 Galway United 7 0 1 6 1 14 1 AWAY Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Bohemians 7 5 2 0 10 2 17 2 Shamrock Rovers 7 3 4 0 8 2 13 3 Derry City 6 4 1 1 12 7 13 4 Sligo Rovers 7 3 2 2 7 4 11 5 Bray Wanderers 6 3 2 1 7 6 11 6 Dundalk 6 3 0 3 9 9 9 7 Saint Patrick s Athletic 5 2 1 2 5 5 7 8 UCD 7 1 2 4 5 16 5 9 Galway United 6 1 1 4 6 14 4 10 Drogheda United 6 0 0 6 2 12 0 13
League tables FIRST 45 MINUTES Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Derry City 12 7 5 0 9 1 26 2 Shamrock Rovers 12 5 6 1 7 3 21 3 Bohemians 13 4 7 2 5 3 19 4 Sligo Rovers 13 4 6 3 6 5 18 5 Bray Wanderers 13 3 8 2 9 6 17 6 Dundalk 12 3 7 2 9 7 16 7 Saint Patrick s Athletic 12 3 7 2 6 4 16 8 UCD 13 2 5 6 4 8 11 9 Drogheda United 13 3 2 8 3 10 11 10 Galway United 13 0 5 8 3 14 5 SECOND 45 MINUTES Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Sligo Rovers 13 6 6 1 12 3 24 2 Derry City 12 6 3 3 15 8 21 3 Shamrock Rovers 12 4 8 0 10 2 20 4 Bohemians 13 5 5 3 8 5 20 5 Saint Patrick s Athletic 12 5 3 4 13 9 18 6 Dundalk 12 4 6 2 8 7 18 7 UCD 13 4 3 6 8 15 15 8 Bray Wanderers 13 3 5 5 6 8 14 9 Galway United 13 2 4 7 4 14 10 10 Drogheda United 13 2 1 10 3 16 7 14
League statistics Goals scored Player Club Total Eoin Doyle Sligo Rovers 8 Eamon Zayed Derry City 7 Conor Murphy Bray Wanderers 6 Gareth McGlynn Derry City 6 James McClean Derry City 6 Jason Byrne Dundalk 5 Anto Flood Bohemians 5 Gary Twigg Shamrock Rovers 4 Daniel North Saint Patrick s Athletic 4 Karl Sheppard Shamrock Rovers 4 John Dillon Sligo Rovers 3 Mark Quigley Dundalk 3 Daryl Kavanagh Saint Patrick s Athletic 3 Evan McMillan Saint Patrick s Athletic 3 Daniel Lafferty Derry City 3 Alan Kirby Sligo Rovers 3 Danny O Connor Bray Wanderers 3 Other selected players from Dundalk & Shamrock Rovers Colin Hawkins Dundalk 2 Michael Hector Dundalk 2 Daniel Kearns Dundalk 2 Gary McCabe Shamrock Rovers 2 Billy Dennehy Shamrock Rovers 2 Ronan Finn Shamrock Rovers 2 Shane Guthrie Dundalk 1 Ross Gaynor Dundalk 1 Ken Oman Shamrock Rovers 1 Chris Turner Shamrock Rovers 1 Ciarán Kilduff Shamrock Rovers 1 Goal times Time Goals Average Between minute 1 and 15 19 12.84% Between minute 16 and 30 19 12.84% Between minute 31 and 45 22 14.86% In additional time 1st half 1 0.68% Between minute 46 and 60 28 18.92% Between minute 61 and 75 29 19.59% Between minute 76 and 90 27 18.24% In additional time 2nd half 3 2.03% Total 148 2.35 Goals per Game 15
Scoring times Club League statistics Minutes 1-15 16-30 31-45 ST1 46-60 61-75 76-90 ST2 Tot Derry City 2 3 3 1 6 4 5 0 24 St. Pat s Ath. 0 3 3 0 5 4 4 0 19 Sligo Rovers 3 2 1 0 2 5 5 0 18 Dundalk 1 2 6 0 2 3 3 0 17 Sham. Rovers 3 2 2 0 4 3 2 1 17 Bray Wand. 6 2 1 0 1 3 2 0 15 Bohemians 1 0 4 0 3 3 1 1 13 UCD 1 1 2 0 2 2 3 1 12 Galway Utd. 1 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 7 Drogheda Utd. 1 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 6 TOTAL 19 19 22 1 28 29 27 3 148 Concession times Club Minutes 1-15 16-30 31-45 ST1 46-60 61-75 76-90 ST2 Tot Galway Utd. 5 3 6 0 6 6 2 0 28 Drogheda Utd. 4 4 2 0 7 4 5 0 26 UCD 2 2 4 0 2 5 8 0 23 Bray Wand. 1 3 2 0 2 3 2 1 14 Dundalk 0 3 4 0 3 2 2 0 14 St. Pat s Ath. 2 2 0 0 1 5 2 1 13 Derry City 0 0 1 0 2 2 4 0 9 Bohemians 1 1 0 1 3 0 1 1 8 Sligo Rovers 3 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 8 Sham. Rovers 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 5 TOTAL 19 19 22 1 28 29 27 3 148 16
Match-by-match lineups Dundalk 14.02.2011 Linfield Dundalk 3-5 Windsor Park, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Kearns 31, 1-1 Thompson 43 (pen), 1-2 Quigley 54, 2-2 Garrett 62, 2-3 Kearns 66, 2-4 Quigley 75, 3-4 Allen 81, 3-5 Kearns 92 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (McDonnell 85), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Maher, Griffin, Breen. 22.02.2011 Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 O Neill 35, 0-2 Corcoran 78 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (N Murphy 78), Guthrie, Hawkins, McDonnell (Kearns 67), Ward, Gaynor, Bolger, Quigley (Griffin 78), Breen. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK). 28.02.2011 Dundalk Linfield 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 11, 1-1 Gault 45+1 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Guthrie, Hawkins, Osborne, Bennett, Bolger (Ward 81), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor (Maher 61), Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Breen. 04.03.2011 Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 3-1 Goals: 0-1 Byrne 44 (pen), 1-1 McCabe 45, 2-1 Twigg 50, 3-1 Twigg 56 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (Hector 50), Hawkins, Guthrie, Kearns, Bennett, Bolger (Maher 81), Gaynor, Byrne, Quigley (P Murphy 24). Unused Subs: N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Breen. 07.03.2011 Glentoran Dundalk 0-1 The Oval, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hector, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, Maher, Kearns, Quigley, Ward (McDonnell 90), Byrne (Breen 88). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Bolger, Griffin. 11.03.2011 Dundalk Galway United 3-2 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Quigley 18, 1-1 Yoffe 21 (pen), 2-1 Byrne 71, 2-2 Seán Kelly 77, 3-2 Guthrie 87 Dundalk: P Murphy, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett (Maher 45+1), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: McDonnell, Griffin, Breen. 18.03.2011 Dundalk Bohemians 0-0 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: - Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Maher, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, McDonnell (Breen 70), Byrne. 17
Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, McSorley, Duffy, Trainor, Hutchinson. 21.03.2011 Dundalk Glentoran 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 Burrows 60 (pen), 1-1 Gaynor 80 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bolger (Maher 65), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen. 25.03.2011 St. Patrick s Athletic Dundalk 3-2 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Quigley 17, 0-2 Quigley 48, 1-2 D McMillan 59, 2-2 E McMillan 62, 3-2 Mulcahy 90 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (Maher 63), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen. 01.04.2011 Dundalk UCD 3-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 42, 2-0 Kearns 45, 2-1 Corry 69, 3-1 Byrne 72 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley (Griffin 87), Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 83). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector. 04.04.2011 Cliftonville Dundalk 1-3 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 25, 1-1 Quigley 48, 1-2 Kearns 73, 1-3 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 82). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin. 08.04.2011 Derry City Dundalk 2-0 The Brandywell, Derry Goals: 1-0 McGlynn 31, 2-0 Zayed 36 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, McDonnell (Ward 76), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin, Breen. 15.04.2011 Dundalk Sligo Rovers 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 1-0 Byrne 7, 1-1 Peers 32 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bennett (Ward 38), McDonnell, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 81). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy. 18.04.2011 Dundalk Cliftonville 2-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 O Connor 59, 1-1 Byrne 67, 2-1 Breen 90+3 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns (Breen 77), Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr. 18
22.04.2011 Drogheda United Dundalk 1-2 United Park, Drogheda Goals: 1-0 Corcoran 25, 1-1 Hawkins 56, 1-2 Kearns 83 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward (Breen 73), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr. 25.04.2011 Monaghan United Dundalk 2-1 AET Gortakeegan, Monaghan Goals: 0-1 Ward 21, 1-1 P Byrne 80, 2-1 O Brien 99 Dundalk: P Murphy, Madden, C Byrne, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Duffy (Kearns 60), Ward, Kerr (Gaynor 60), Griffin (Quigley 74), Breen. Unused Subs: Cherrie (GK), J Byrne, Hutchinson. 29.04.2011 Dundalk Bray Wanderers 0-0 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: - Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Duffy 88), Breen (Griffin 61). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Kerr, Hutchinson. 02.05.2011 Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 16, 1-1 Byrne 37 (pen) Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Breen, Kerr, Duffy, Hutchinson. 06.05.2011 Galway United Dundalk 0-3 Terryland Park, Galway Goals: 0-1 Hector 33, 0-2 Quigley 42, 0-3 Hector Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hector, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell (Hawkins 90+1), Ward, Kearns, Quigley (Breen 64), Gaynor, Byrne (Griffin 74). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Duffy. 09.05.2011 Bohemians Dundalk 0-1 Dalymount Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Hawkins 80 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie (Bennett 60), N Murphy, Hector, Bolger, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Ward, Griffin, Breen, Duffy. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 19
Match-by-match lineups Shamrock Rovers 22.02.2011 Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 O Neill 35, 0-2 Corcoran 78 Shamrock Rovers: Hughes, Doyle, Sives (Gannon HT), Flynn, Memery, Byrne, O Donnell, Corcoran, Kavanagh, Kilduff, O Neill (Connolly 74). Unused Subs: Branagan. 04.03.2011 Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 3-1 Goals: 0-1 Byrne 44 (pen), 1-1 McCabe 45, 2-1 Twigg 50, 3-1 Twigg 56 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe, Finn, Turner (Rice 78), Dennehy (Kavanagh 71), Twigg, O Neill (Kelly 83). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, McCormack, Corcoran. 12.03.2011 Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 0-1 The Showgrounds, Sligo Goals: 0-1 McCabe 6 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman (Flynn 45), Stevens, McCabe, Turner, Finn, Dennehy, Twigg (Rice 86), O Neill (Kilduff 77). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Kavanagh, Kelly, McCormack. 14.03.2011 Distillery Shamrock Rovers 0-3 New Grosvenor, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 35, 0-2 Kilduff 40, 0-3 Kelly 67 Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, McCormack, Stevens (Sullivan 62), Flynn, Oman, Rice, O Donnell, Kelly, Kavanagh, Kilduff, Sheppard. Unused Subs: Mannus (GK), McCabe, Twigg, Turner, Finn, Dennehy. 18.03.2011 Shamrock Rovers St. Pat s Ath 2-0 Goals: 1-0 Turner 11, 2-0 Oman 81 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe, Turner, Finn (Rice 72), Dennehy, Twigg (Sheppard 82), O Neill (Kilduff 65). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, O Donnell, Kavanagh. 22.03.2011 Shamrock Rovers Distillery 4-2 Goals: 0-1 Browne 14, 1-1 Kilduff 42, 2-1 Rice 47, 2-2 Liggett 56, 3-2 Kavanagh 81, 4-2 Kavanagh 88 Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, McCormack, Doyle, Flynn, Murray (Sullivan 63), Rice, O Donnell, Kelly (Finn 73), Kavanagh, Kilduff, Sheppard. Unused Subs: Mannus (GK), Stevens, McCabe, Twigg, Dennehy. 25.03.2011 Derry City Shamrock Rovers 0-0 The Brandywell, Derry Goals: - Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Kavanagh 55), Turner, Dennehy, Finn, O Neill (Kilduff 62), Twigg (O Donnell 75). 20
Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Sheppard, Rice. 01.04.2011 Drogheda U Shamrock Rovers 0-4 United Park, Drogheda Goals: 0-1 Twigg 28, 0-2 Kilduff 49, 0-3 Twigg 56, 0-4 Dennehy 73 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Murray, Oman (Flynn 59), Stevens, Sullivan, Dennehy, Finn (McCormack 78), Rice, McCabe, Twigg, Kilduff (Sheppard 76). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), O Neill, Kelly, Kavanagh. 08.04.2011 Shamrock Rovers Bray W 0-1 Goals: 0-1 D O Connor 6 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Sheppard 58), Rice, Finn, Dennehy, Twigg (O Neill 37), Kilduff (Kelly 75). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, McCormack, Kavanagh. 11.04.2011 Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 0-2 The Showgrounds, Sligo Goals: 0-1 Finn 27, 0-2 Sheppard 58 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray, Rice, McCormack, Finn, Kelly (Dennehy 66), O Neill (Kilduff 74), Sheppard (Kavanagh 88). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), McCabe, Gannon, Corcoran. 15.04.2011 Bohemians Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dalymount Park, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Buckley 72, 1-1 Finn 90+4 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray (Kilduff 83), Rice (McCabe 63), Finn, McCormack, Sheppard, Kelly (Dennehy 76), O Neill. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Gannon, Kavanagh, Corcoran. 19.04.2011 Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers 2-1 Goals: 0-1 Doyle 4, 1-1 Sheppard 8, 2-1 Dennehy 25 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray, Rice, McCormack (McCabe 63), Finn, Dennehy (Kavanagh 79), O Neill (Kelly 70), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Kilduff, Flynn, Corcoran. 22.04.2011 Shamrock Rovers UCD 3-1 Goals: 1-0 Sheppard 69, 2-0 Finn 73, 2-1 Benson 82, 3-1 Dennehy 83 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, Kavanagh (Kilduff 53), McCormack (Rice 53), Finn (Corcoran 85), Dennehy, Sheppard, O Neill. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Doyle, Kelly. 25.04.2011 St. Pat s Ath Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Kelly 58 (pen), 1-1 North 88 (pen) St. Pat s win 3-1 on penalties Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, Doyle (Flood 59), Memery, Gannon, Flynn, Byrne (Connolly 99), McCormack, Kavanagh (Satelle 85), Corcoran, Kilduff, Kelly. Unused Subs: Hughes (GK), E Murray, Kinsella. 21
29.04.2011 Galway U Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Terryland Park, Galway Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 7 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Kilduff 70), Rice, Finn, Dennehy, O'Neill (Kavanagh 82), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Kelly, McCormack, Gannon. 02.05.2011 Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Oriel Park, Dundalk Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 16, 1-1 Byrne 37 (pen) Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Kavanagh 66), Finn, Rice, Dennehy (Kelly 81), O Neill (Kilduff 72), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, McCormack, Gannon. 06.05.2011 Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers 1-0 Goals: 1-0 Sheppard 35 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Dennehy 63), Finn, Rice, McCormack (Turner 81), Sheppard, O Neill (Kilduff 73). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Kavanagh, Kelly. 09.05.2011 St. Pat s Ath Shamrock Rovers 0-0 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: - Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Murray, Flynn, Stevens, Sullivan, McCormack, McCabe (Kavanagh 59), Finn, Rice (Dennehy 59), O Neill (Kilduff 75), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Kelly, Gannon, Turner. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 22
Team facts Dundalk Domestic club competition honours Dundalk FC has won nine Premier Division titles since joining the League of Ireland in 1926. They won their first league in the 1932/33 season but had to wait until 1963 for another one, before winning seven more in a 28-year spell from 1967 to 1995, their last top-flight triumph. They have, however, won two First Division titles in the meantime, the first of those coming in 2001 and the latest in November 2008. The Lilywhites have also won nine FAI Cups, the latest coming in their last cup final appearance in 2002. Also on the club s roll of honour are four League Cups, although they have not won that competition since 1990. Dundalk competed in Europe last July for the first time since 2002. Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division sixth 2009: Premier Division fifth 2008: First Division champions, promoted to the Premier Division 2007: First Division third, beaten by Finn Harps in promotion/relegation playoff semifinal 2006: First Division runners-up, defeated Waterford United in promotion/relegation final 2005: First Division sixth 2004: First Division sixth 2003: First Division ninth 2002/03: First Division tenth 2001/02: Premier Division tenth, relegated to the First Division 2010 season Dundalk made a lightening start to 2010, going unbeaten in their opening six games, during which time they showed a steely determination by coming from 2-0 down at Sligo Rovers to draw 2-2. They were at the top of the pile for close to three months but lost their place at the summit in the final game before the midseason break in June. After returning from two weeks off, Dundalk won just one of their subsequent ten league games, before a run of five wins in seven including a 5-1 hammering of eventual champions Shamrock Rovers and a first victory at Richmond Park in 21 years over a five-week period in September and October ensured a sixth-placed finish. In the FAI Cup, Dundalk exited at the first hurdle, falling to Saint Patrick s Athletic. They made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing 1-0 at Monaghan United. In the Leinster Senior Cup, they defeated Ballymun United before losing on penalties at Bray Wanderers. Meanwhile, in their return to Europe after an eight-year absence, the Lilywhites defeated CS Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 5-4 on aggregate before bowing out to Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) on an 8-0 scoreline. Records Record League Victory 9-0 (H) vs. Jacobs, 6 February 1932 9-0 (H) vs. Shelbourne, 27 January 1980 Record League Defeat 1-9 (A) vs. Limerick, 17 December 1944 23
Team facts Shamrock Rovers Domestic club competition honours Shamrock Rovers FC was founded in 1901 and are the most successful club in Irish football history, winning the league title a record 16 times and the FAI Cup a record 24 times. Rovers was founded in Ringsend, Dublin, and won the league at their first attempt in 1922/23. They went on to establish themselves as Ireland s most successful club by 1949, winning 44 trophies. In 1958, they became the first Irish team to compete in European competition, and they followed that up by winning a record six FAI Cups in succession in the 60s. In the 80s, they won four league titles on the bounce. They played at Glenmalure Park from 1926 to 1987 but were homeless up until 2009 when they moved to Tallaght Stadium. Less than two years later, last October, they claimed their first league title since 1994. Two weeks later, however, a penalty shootout loss to Sligo Rovers in the final of the FAI Cup meant that their search for a first Cup since 1987 continues. Last season, having finished as runnersup in 09, they competed on the European stage for the first time since 2003. Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division champions 2009: Premier Division second 2008: Premier Division seventh 2007: Premier Division fifth 2006: First Division winners, promoted to the Premier Division 2005: Premier Division 11th, relegated to the First Division 2004: Premier Division ninth 2003: Premier Division seventh 2002/03: Premier Division third 2001/02: Premier Division second 2010 season Shamrock Rovers ended a 16-year wait for a 16th league title by narrowly pipping Bohemians, finishing ahead of their fierce Dublin rivals on only goal difference. The season, however, started with just one point from their opening three games, as they lost back-toback home games against Saint Patrick s Athletic and Dundalk in a five-day spell in mid March. A win in Galway the following week started the revival and they went unbeaten until 3 May when they lost at Oriel Park. They then embarked on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league, including 12 wins, but it would again end in Dundalk as they suffered a 5-1 annihilation on 13 September. Three successive defeats at the beginning of October by UCD, Bohemians and Sporting Fingal almost saw them throw away the title, but they recovered to earn four points from their final two games which was enough to clinch the title. In the FAI Cup, they lost a dramatic penalty shootout to Sligo Rovers in the final at the Aviva Stadium, and they exited the League Cup at the same hands at the semi-final stage. In the Europa League, they lost to Juventus having beaten Bnei Yehuda (Israel), while in the Leinster Senior Cup they were eliminated by Shelbourne in the quarter-finals. Records Record League Victory 11-0 (H) vs. Bray Wanderers, 28 October 1928 Record League Defeat 0-7 (A) vs. Saint James s Gate, 22 April 1937 24
League head-to-head Overall League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk 173 55 46 72 241 295 - Shamrock Rovers 173 72 46 55 295 241 - At Dundalk League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk 86 36 23 27 128 111 - Shamrock Rovers 86 27 23 36 111 128 - At Rovers League P W D L F A Pts Shamrock Rovers 87 45 23 19 184 113 - Dundalk 87 19 23 45 113 184 - Note: Points not accumulated due to different points system in previous years Last 10 meetings All competitions Comp. Date Res. Goalscorers League 02/05/11 Dundalk 1-1 Rovers Byrne 37 (pen); Sheppard 16 League 04/03/11 Rovers 3-1 Dundalk McCabe 45, Twigg 50, 55; Byrne 45 (pen) LSC 22/02/11 Dundalk 0-2 Rovers O Neill 35, Corcoran 78 League 13/09/10 Dundalk 5-1 Rovers Miller 3, Kuduzovic 17, Tipton 27, 44, 83; Twigg 60 League 11/07/10 Rovers 4-0 Dundalk Chambers 30, Maher 35 (OG), Twigg 36, Chambers 60 League 03/05/10 Dundalk 2-1 Rovers Fenn 52, Melligan 55; Twigg 82 League 21/03/10 Rovers 0-2 Dundalk Fenn 35, Maher 48 League 23/10/09 Dundalk 2-4 Rovers Turner 51, Williams 83; Robinson 28, Maguire 81, Twigg 85, Baker 90 League 22/08/09 Rovers 2-2 Dundalk Rice 25, Twigg 31; Williams 66, Burns 86 League 02/06/09 Rovers 3-1 Dundalk Twigg 36, 89, Baker 90; Daly 67 Last 10 meetings All comps. P W D L F A Pts Dundalk 10 3 2 5 16 21 - Shamrock Rovers 10 5 2 3 21 16 - Last 10 meetings League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk 10 3 3 4 16 20 12 Shamrock Rovers 10 4 3 3 20 16 15 Dundalk ended a near 13-year wait for a win over Shamrock Rovers in March 2010 when goals in either half from Neale Fenn and Stephen Maher gave them a 2-0 win at Tallaght Stadium. The Lilywhites recorded another win in the return at Oriel Park in May, on a 2-1 scoreline thanks to goals from Fenn and JJ Melligan. Rovers finally got a win on the board when an under-strength and tired Dundalk lost 4-0 in Dublin in July. However, Ian Foster s side responded in incredible fashion at Oriel in September, a hat-trick from Matthew Tipton and goals from Tom Miller and Fahrudin Kuduzovic giving them an unforgettable 5-1 win. The first game of this season ended in a 3-1 win for Rovers in the capital, Peter Cherrie s early sending off proving a major factor. In the return at Oriel, at the beginning of this month, Jason Byrne s 37th-minute penalty cancelled out Karl Sheppard s early opener in a 1-1 draw. 25