Dundalk put one foot in next round of Europa League qualifiers with 1-0 first leg away win over Levadia Tallinn
Dylan Connolly got the only goal as the Lilywhites take an advantage back home but Stephen Kenny insists they still have a big job to do
DUNDALK put one foot in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers after edging out Levadia Tallinn in Estonia.
The superb Dylan Connolly scored the only goal as the Lilywhites handed Levadia a mammoth task for next Thursday’s second leg.
The solitary strike came eight minutes after the break as former Bray man Connolly netted his first European goal, sliding home Michael Duffy’s ball across the area.
The Premier Division table toppers had multiple opportunities to put the tie to bed, but were wasteful in front of goal.
And Kenny — who won his sixth European match in charge of the club — is wary of the home leg, calling for his side to finish the job.
He said: “It’s not often you get an away victory in Europe and it’s an important victory, but it’s still only half time.
“We have a big job to do still, the game is still to be won.
“They really threw the kitchen sink at us in the first 10 minutes.
“Their deliveries and set plays were good. We just needed to sort things out tactically at that stage. We’re sort of kicking ourselves that we didn’t make it easier for ourselves.
“At 2-0, we’d be very confident then, with two away goals. It certainly won’t be any easier next week.”
Star man Duffy was deemed doubtful for the clash but made the starting line-up. Kenny also opted for Seán Hoare in central defence ahead of Dan Cleary.
Hoare and Co were put under pressure straight away with Levadia forcing a succession of corners.
Keeper Gary Rogers was kept on his toes and pulled off three smart stops to deny long range efforts.
After weathering the early storm the League of Ireland side took control.
Duffy and Robbie Benson looked bright and the pair combined on the break to set up Pat Hoban.
But the striker was unable to control with the goal at his mercy. Missed opportunities were to become a theme. Jamie McGrath was next to try his luck. The No 10 nodded over from six yards
after leaping to meet a ball from the left. Duffy also shot a daisy-cutter wide of the mark.
The chance of the opening half arrived just before the whistle. Benson raced onto a loose ball in the area to strike a powerful effort.
A deflection took the sting out of the attempt, however and Levadia scrambled clear.
But a Dundalk goal was coming and Connolly got it not long after the restart with a neat finish at the back post.
The creator, Duffy, provided his 19th assist of a scintillating individual campaign.
Later, Connolly could have made it 2-0 after racing through one-on-one. But Estonian international stopper Sergei Lepmets was equal to his strong shot.
It came after Levadia’s closest attempt of the match when substitute Pavel Marin’s cross came off the heel of Brian Gartland.
A wrong-footed Rogers came to his team’s rescue, diving left to angle around the post.
How important the stopper’s intervention could prove will be known in a week’s time.
Kenny added: “Gary was excellent on the night. His handling in the first half was very good in the first half particularly. It’s important to keep a clean sheet.”
SUN STAR MAN
Michael Duffy (Dundalk)
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DUNDALK: Rogers 8; Gannon 7, Gartland 7, Hoare 7, Massey 7; Shields 7, Benson 8; Connolly 8 (Mountney 88, 5), McGrath 7 (Adorjan 81, 6), Duffy 8 (Murray 90, 6); Hoban 7.
LEVADIA TALLINN: Lepmets 7; Jurgenson 6, Dudarev 6, Podholjuzin 6, Kruglov 6; Gando 7 (Marin 56, 6), Tkachuk 7, Peetson 7 (Svraka 67, 5), Harin 6 (Roosnupp 76, 5); Debelko 7, Andreev 6.
REFEREE: Bojan Nikolic (Serbia) 6.