League of Ireland title race going to the final day as Shamrock Rovers survive Dundalk scare

Dundalk 0-1 Shamrock Rovers

And so it goes down to the final day.

For the first time in a decade - when Dundalk and Cork City played each other in a winner-takes-all title decider in 2014 - the SSE Airtricity Premier Division race goes right to the wire.

But only just. Oriel Park, the venue for that unforgettable night 10 years ago, saw recently relegated Dundalk put title hopefuls Shamrock Rovers through the ringer on Sunday evening.

Dylan Watts, the hero in Drogheda 10 nights earlier, was on hand again to earn Rovers the three points they needed to keep their dreams of five-in-a-row alive.

His half-volley in the 58th minute was the difference between the two sides as the Hoops endured another nervy evening in County Louth.

Dundalk’s Jad Hakiki, who signed earlier this year from Shelbourne, was milimetres away from doing his old side a massive favour when he struck the underside of the crossbar in the first-half.

It was a half that Rovers dominated possession-wise, but one in which Dundalk looked far more threatening in attack.

Jon Daly’s men were determined to put on a show for their fans in their final Oriel Park outing in the Premier Division for the next year at least.

They belied their relegated status to attack their visitors with purpose, with veterans Daryl Horgan and John Mountney in fine form.

They experienced many glorious years under Stephen Kenny at Oriel Park - and it was Kenny’s young son Eoin who was an effective focal point in Dundalk’s attack yesterday.

But as was the case with the Lilywhites far too often this year, they impressed with their endeavour but ultimately lacked the cutting edge to wound their opponents.

And it was left to Watts to deliver the crucial moment when he sent a Graham Burke cross through a forest of legs and inside the far left-hand post.

Burke’s half-time arrival was a turning point. The hero of Rovers’ Windsor Park mauling of Larne on Thursday, he immediately sharpened the visitors’ attack.

Within moments of the restart, Burke teed up Johnny Kenny for a gimme, but the on-loan Celtic striker fluffed his lines and sent the ball bobbling wide from 10 yards.

At this point, Rovers fans would have been forgiven for thinking that it wouldn’t be their night.

They had offered so little in attack up to that point that such opportunities were not to be squandered.

Would the nerves ultimately get to the four-in-a-row winners? Even after Watts’ dramatic intervention, they didn’t look fully sure of themselves.

Indeed, moments after his goal, Lee Grace almost headed into his own net as he attempted to defend a Horgan delivery from the right.

Luckily for the Hoops defender, goalkeeper Leon Pohls was alert to the danger. He dived to his left to push Grace’s header wide of his post.

Pohls did extremely well shortly before half-time to deny Robbie Mahon; this time diving to his right to deny the Dundalk man from 20 yards.

The gusting winds and rain soaked pitch made for tricky conditions on both sides, but Dundalk got to grips with things before their visitors.

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When Mountney whipped a low ball across the area in the 10th minute, Kenny and Hakiki both failed to get a crucial touch and the danger quickly disappeared.

Five minutes later, when Horgan’s cross landed at the feet of Mountney, his shot was deflected wide.

And from the resulting corner, which was nodded down at the back post by Mountney, Hakiki’s spectacular volley cannoned off the underside of the bar and bounced a yard shy of the goal-line.

Kenny attempted to force the rebound home, but was crowded out.

Between those Dundalk chances, a scuffed Ross Munro clearance as the Dundalk keeper raced from his area to clear landed at the feet of Watts. His 50-yard lob sailed over the bar, sparing Munro’s blushes.

Shelbourne boss Damien Duff said he would not have his usual glass of red while watching the game, but surely by half-time he had the champagne on ice.

But that’s where it will have to stay as we enter the final week of the most hotly contested League of Ireland title race in years.

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