19th October 2002 - eircom League Division One
by Daniel McDonnell at Terryland Park
Ollie Keogh 58
John Flanagan 86
When he took the job as manager at Oriel Park, Trevor Anderson was well aware that he was inheriting an expensively assembled team which was failing to live up to expectations. By examining the facial expressions of the new man during the ninety minutes of this Division One clash, one is left in doubt that he is already well aware of some of the problems he is inheriting.
At times exasperated, at times seemingly infuriated, Anderson watched with disdain as his new charges turned in a largely uninspiring display. With only one training session taken so far, his familiarity with the players is obviously lacking, as was evident during this game when the only player he individually gave instructions to during the course of the action was Gary Haylock, who played under him at Linfield. In fact, it's quite likely that Haylock will take on a more influential role in the side under the new regime, as Anderson's "man on the pitch", so to speak. Other experienced players such as Donal Broughan and Ciaran Kavanagh failed to impress themselves upon their new manager with poor displays, while Chris Lawless and Martin Reilly may find their first team places under threat after poor displays, with the new man choosing to withdraw them both during the course of the ninety minutes.
Unable to communicate on a personal level with the players, Anderson restricted his verbal comments from the sideline solely to the word "shape" in the first forty five minutes, a fact that didn't go unnoticed by the decent sized travelling support. In the second half, he repeated the shape instruction a lot, before a popular verbal dressing down of the defence who gave the ball away inside their own penalty area. "don't be fannyin aboot."
In truth, watching the mannerisms of Anderson ["he looks like a Nazi" was one early observation] was a damn sight more interesting than the game itself, which was arduous viewing. Chances were few and far between, and the only bright light in the first half for the visitors was David Ward who was tormenting the Galway defence every time he got the ball, and looked like he was on a different level to his team-mates - impressing his new manager in the process. At one point, he even pointed out to the bench the inadequacies of central midfield, his new confidence obviously giving him new ideas.
He was right though, Kavanagh and Lawless were non existent. Defence hoofed the ball over midfield to the strikers. [A] because they obviously didn't have confidence in them and didn't think of it or [B] the midfielders did not drop deep to look for the ball, instead surging forward once the defence received the ball. It's glaringly obvious that Dundalk lack a creative influence, a player who will drop deeper, pick the ball up facing his own goal and turn looking for a pass to spread the play. Someone, perhaps, like Johnathan Prizeman. Whatever his reasons for leaving, and rumoured destructive influence in the dressing room it's a shame he is playing in non league football when he has so much ability - if the answer isn't Prizeman himself, it's definitely someone in his style. While some fans hounded him last year for his seemingly non committal mannerisms, the fact remains that sometimes you brains, not just brawn. Kavanagh and Lawless get stuck in - but the quality to hurt the opposition simply isn't there.
Dundalk's best spell of the match came at the start of the second half, when Martin Reilly missed his chance to make an impression on the new manager by heading two clear opportunities wide of the post. The first came after a terrific Ward cross found him un-marked eight yards out, but he headed wide. The second was a more difficult effort, with Reilly heading over after a Brunton cross found him again eight yards out. His failure to hit the target on both occasions caused considerable concern on the bench, which turned to anger shortly afterwards when Galway scored.
As Dundalk dithered around the area, Robbie Brunton eventually lost possession. The impressive Tony Folan won possession and crossed for Ollie Keogh who somehow flicked the ball between Broughan and Dempsey to give the hosts the lead. While Dundalk had created the better chances before then, the goal had been coming - and thereafter Galway had several chances to increase their lead.
The Dundalk performance got progressively worse with only Mick Dempsey keeping the scoreline at 1-0 with a wonderful display as Galway grew in confidence, buoyed on by the glaring defficiences in the Dundalk side. Flanagan replaced Lawless, and subsequently Malone replaced Reilly but the best chances still fell to the opposition, who looked like threatening every time they came forward.
The last ten minutes featured a mini resurgence from Dundalk, with Ward, anonymous for most of the second half, missing a good chance after easily rounding his marker. A Dundalk equaliser followed shortly afterwards, completely undeserved. Cormac Malone worked hard to win a free kick on the edge of the box. Robbie Brunton curled it in with his left foot, finding sub Flanagan who headed home from eight yards. On the bench, "Shape", who was previously quite unemotional celebrated the goal by briefly entering the field of play, displaying the same relief which was felt by the Dundalk supporters watching from the other side of the wall.
Remarkably, Dundalk nearly stole all three points in the final minute when Ward, who burst back to his form of the first half was brilliantly released by Kavanagh before crossing for Cormac Malone who looked set to score until Fran Carter somehow blocked his goalbound effort in a frantic scramble on the goal line - putting the ball behind for a corner.
In truth, a Dundalk victory would have been a travesty of justice. No-one knows that better than Trevor Anderson, and in the coming week he will set about making the changes, possibly both tactical and personnel related which will hopefully lead to a better performance against Monaghan United this Thursday.
1 Mick Dempsey 8
Best display in a Dundalk shirt by some way
2 Chris Malone 6
Average display
3 Robbie Brunton 5
Crossed for goal, but error led to GUFC strike
4 Donal Broughan 5
Did not play well at all
5 Bryan McCrystal 5
Jittery at times, like the start of the season all over again
6 Ciaran Kavanagh 5
Improved as game went on, but midfield still suffering
7 David Hoey 6
Largely anonymous, but worked hard in lead up to equaliser
8 Martin Reilly 4
Had the proverbial 'mare, missing chances and repeatedly losing footing.
9 Gary Haylock 5
Can do so much better
10 Chris Lawless 5
Tried hard, but maybe his off field exertions are taking their toll
11 David Ward 7
Brilliant in first half, out of the game after the interval until final flourish
SUBS
14 John Flanagan 7 for Lawless
Scored. What more can you say?
12 Cormac Malone for Reilly
Not really on long enough to rate, but won the free kick which led to the equaliser