Bennion haunts Dundalk

Dundalk 0 Shelbourne 1

In a fixture that could yet prove a dress rehearsal for this year’s FAI Cup final, it was the home side who enjoyed the bulk of the chances, only to be denied time and again by their former No 1 Chris Bennion.

After a Michael Rafter effort was hooked off the line in the opening minute, Stephen Maher blazed over from close range before the Shels keeper did brilliantly to turn a Marc Griffin free around the post in the 39th minute.

Alan Matthews’ visitors then took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Kavanagh punished the Dundalk centre-halves for standing off him by curling a sublime effort past Peter Cherrie.

The Louth men pushed for an equaliser in the second half but were thwarted by Bennion when he turned their best effort — a free from Griffin — around the post on 75 minutes.

Darius Kierans’ night then went from bad to worse when leading marksman Griffin was shown a straight red card four minutes from time for a late challenge on Brian Shorthall.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Mountney, Foran, Burns (Conlon 85), Osbourne; O’Brien (Reilly 72), Shields, Maher, McDonnell (Shannon 62); Rafter, Griffin.

SHELBOURNE: Bennion; Shorthall, Paisley, Boyle, S Byrne; Cassidy (Clancy 83), Cronin, Hurley, Kavanagh (C Byrne 89); Dawson, P Byrne.

Referee: G Kelly (Cork).