The miracle of
Tallaght, is what I considered the feat done lately by Stephen Kenny chaps in
their third round melee against always hardened Bate Borisov, after their lone
goal lead back in Belorussia these were hoping to make the ultimate of feats.
With the return match
scheduled at the colossus of Whitestown Way in South Dublin, the Lilywhites
still savor the home field advantage after Oriel Park according to UEFA
statutes was not fit and filled the necessary requirements.
No problem as the followers
of County Louth will go anywhere their Lilywhites play, and despite not playing
in their home field, the feeling of playing at home was enough for this squad
to play as if they are true champions.
When the Dundalk squad,
succumb at Borisov Arena back in Barsaw, Belorussia last week, the lone goal
did not meant anything for the Irish players. After seeing in disbelief and feeling
dejected in the field in Bate Stadium, the shock of giving up that lone score.
That feeling brought
back home by the Lilywhite players and looking forward to mount a miracle or an
offensive revival with the support of their home crowd. Nothing but a display
of genuine Irish football is what Stephen Kenny chaps displayed in the field
the ninety minutes in Tallaght.
Although their first
half saw a nervous Irish eleven seeing it a certain pressure from Bate strikers
in Vitali Radionov and Alexei Rios, these just became a simple scare, but the
backfield of the Lilywhites came up strong and assure their keeper a tranquil
afternoon from then on.
Even the lone goal
scorer Mikhail Gordeychuck, Alexander Hleb and Sergei Veremko efforts , these
little could do to put their squad back in the game.
As you recall last campaign,
the Bate blokes eliminated the Airtricity squad in this event, advanced to the
stage group, and leaving the Ireland squad out of the grand fete, but today it was
a sort of payday for the Lilywhites towards their guests.
Sure they performed
as locals and taking advantage of the blink of an eye from Bate defenders when
the first score of the game came through a play from midfielder Darryl Horgan
to a pass to who became the hero of the match with a double in David Mc Millan
for the 1-0 in the 44th.
With the aggregate score
tied now at one goal apiece, the Lilywhites went in the task of starting mayhem
in the midfield and going forward to beat the Bate backfield and doing it in the
59th minute with David Mac Millan putting the score in favor of 2-1.
Despite seeing the marvel
his chaps were performing in the field, Stephen Kenny started working his usual
magic with 90th a few substitutions and believe me they did paid off
when Robbie Benson coming in the 78th crown his efforts in the 90th
minute.
No wonder this club
has back-to-back champions in the league of Ireland and looking for their third
shield, so far placed in the league table in first place. With their Boss Kenny,
this squad has won a total of four shields and more to come.
Not bad for a day’s
work for the Dundalk squad netting a nice payday for their efforts today in the
neighborhood of €7 million as well another promise of more monies if they
advance to the coveted stage group with 180 minutes in the way to do it.
I give Kudos to the whole
Dundalk 11 who played a very heroic and one of a kind match with lots of heart
and ambition to turn around the score to a final 3-1 as well trying to emulate
the feat in 2011 by the Shamrock Rovers. This could be a sort of déjà vu for Stephen
O’ Donnell and Ronan Finn- as these two was a part of that Rovers team.
So far, the magic of the
Champions league seems to be a bit closer, Dundfalk FC can make all sorts of
history if they achieve the ultimate of goals in advancing to the stage group,
as Europe sunshine is within grasp, Stephen Kenny, and his chaps can do it.
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