Sean Boyd spot on as Shelbourne earn a point

Shelbourne 1 Dundalk 1

Patrick Hoban struck a landmark goal at Tolka Park on Friday night, but it wasn’t enough to earn Dundalk all three points against Shelbourne.

Now in his seventh season at the club – spread across two spells – Galway native Hoban headed the Lilywhites into the lead on 69 minutes with his 100th top-flight goal. This looked set to secure them a second win for the campaign, but a penalty from Sean Boyd ultimately ensured Damien Duff’s Shels emerged with a share of the spoils.

Clear-cut opportunities were initially hard to come by until Dundalk’s Sam Bone unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike on 23 minutes that produced a fine stop from Reds’ goalkeeper Lewis Webb.

Shels wing-back John Ross Wilson subsequently fired over from close-range off a superb Luke Byrne cross as the deadlock remained unbroken at the break.

Dundalk suffered a blow when half-time substitute Daniel Kelly was withdrawn through injury, but they eventually broke the Shels resistance in his absence. From an enticing Keith Ward set-piece delivery, the ever-dependable Hoban climbed highest to edge Stephen O’Donnell’s men in front with 21 minutes to go.

This ramped up the pressure on a Shels side that were still searching for a first home goal under Duff’s watch, but they finally opened their account in a frantic finale. After he was fouled by Dundalk ’keeper Nathan Shepperd, the towering Boyd stepped forward on 86 minutes and calmly fired his low spot-kick to the net.

SHELBOURNE: Webb; O’Driscoll, Byrne, Ledwidge; Wilson, McEneff, Dervin, Kane; Farrell (Carr, 70); McManus, Boyd.

DUNDALK: Shepperd; Bone (Williams, 61), Boyle, Connolly, Hanratty; Sloggett, Benson; Bradley (Kelly, 46 – Adams, 61), Ward (Doyle, 76), Martin (Macari, 82); Hoban.

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin).