Ryan the hero as Dundalk go four clear - February 26,
2001
Dundalk went four points clear at the top of the Eircom League first division yesterday after a 1-1 draw with St. Francis. Sure, it could have been better - but it could have been worse too, as Dundalk had to play half the game with ten men!
The table-toppers can thank John Ryan for their point. The former Bray Wanderers hero scored Dundalk's opener after ten minutes, gathering a Tommy Byrne pass to curl one from twelve yards.
Then he donned the goalkeeper's jersey after John Connolly was sent off ten minutes before the break for a foul on Neil Stone!
Ryan couldn't do anything about the penalty, despatched by Bryan Rickard.
But he kept the Saints at bay for the rest of the game, making one brilliant fingertip save from an Owen Quigley header in the 68th minute.
The teams were back to ten-a-side for the last twelve minutes after St. Francis' Shane Doherty was sent off for a second yellow.