EIRCOM LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

7th April

Athlone 0

Dundalk FC 0

Rubbish. Thats the word that can be used to describe every aspect of this performance. Dundalk have gone off the rails badly in recent weeks, so much so that a playoff place would be an achievement from here on in. This performance however could well go down as the worst of the lot. This Dundalk side is unusual in the fact it has four bogey sides, Longford, Athlone, St Francis and Monaghan while other sides seem to have just the one. In the 16 games against those sides this season Dundalk have amazingly taken only 20 points from a possible 48, a quite awful total.

For last nights team the sick David Ward was replaced up front by Mark Reid while David Hoey came in at left back for the suspended David Crawley.

Well all I can say is, David Ward must be really sick if Mark Reid was considered a fit alternative. He lumbered around the pitch before being replaced with nothing more than an occasional header to his name. However his lifeless, spiritless performance was matched by many around them with only the usually determined Hoey, Quinn and Whyte showing any urgency during the game. All three however made too many mistakes while their teammates offered little

Apart from a Morrisroe left footed effort straight at Connaughton and two Paddy Quinn efforts well created by Izzi which went wide the first half was devoid of activity, largely forgettable

The second half was much the same as the first. Dundalk showed no urgency, passion or general skill. It was horrific stuff as the ball bobbled over the equally poor pitch making good play impossible. Each side had one chance in the half. Dundalks came when Campbells header was dropped by Connaughton and came to Izzi whose header was cleared off the line by Adrian Carberry. Athlones came with five minutes left when Connolly gifted the ball to Stephen Mullin who shot wide of an empty goal. Izzi had a half chance and substitutes Delany and Reilly both had headed efforts which went wide.

When walking out of the game I met some Athlone fans who admitted they were shocked by the lack of fight in the Dundalk team, who they had expected to come out with all guns blazing. Well that never materialised as Dundalk followed a strict policy of decommissioning on the night. No life on the bench, none on the pitch. Words cannot express how bad this was, and how sickening it was to see them plod around the pitch nonchanently when there was patently so much at stake. The manager has to take some blame for this but those who think he should take all are deluding themselves. The players themselves know whats at stake, they're not stupid and they certainly should not need to be motivated for such a clash when there is so much to play for. If they have any ambition, any wish to be Premier Division players then it did not show last night at all and there is no excuse whatsoever for this display.

Good performances on the night ? Quinn, Izzi, Melvin, Gollogly just about did ok but that was all. Best of a bad lot on the night unfortunately. A shadow of the team who had won in Bray only a month or so ago. That night they proved that they were good enough to be in the Premier Division. Therefore its not a case of Dundalk not having the ability to go up, its a case of not having the motivation or pride to want to play in the Premier Division. They seem happy to continue playing at this level which is an absolute disgrace. There are some players who played tonight that should not ever be given a starting jersey again. More rumours of dressing room flare ups do not help the situation.

Now promotion is well out of our hands, the playoff now looks like hard work to get to. Two games to go, six points required. The ability is there, but is the will to win ? As fans we've learned the harsh lesson this season that you should never get your hopes up.

DUNDALK FC

1 John Connolly 5

2 John Whyte 5

3 David Hoey 5

4 Paddy Quinn 6

5 Padraig Gollogley 6

6 Noel Melvin 6

7 John Flanagan 5

8 Paul Campbell 4

9 Mark Reid 2

10 Tony Izzi 6

11 Brian Morrisroe 4

SUBS

12 Derek Delaney 4 for Morrisroe

14 Anto Reilly 5 for Reid