Mahon's late dagger seals Lazarus-like comeback for Waterford FC
Waterford FC's John Mahon celebrates scoring his side’s third goal with teammates. Photo: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
Waterford FC produced a Lazarus-like comeback for the ages as John Mahon’s late strike completed a stunning turnaround to sink Dundalk FC 3-2 in a breathless SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at Oriel Park.
Dead and buried at two goals down and outplayed for much of the first half, Graham Coughlan’s side rose from the canvas in extraordinary fashion. A Tommy Lonergan double dragged them level before Mahon struck five minutes from time to leave the home crowd in disbelief and complete one of the most unlikely recoveries of the season.
Dundalk had looked in total command early on and few inside Oriel Park could have predicted what was to come. While Lonergan volleyed over inside the opening minute, it was the hosts who settled quickest, with Aodh Dervin firing over from distance soon after.
The breakthrough arrived on 10 minutes. Will Johnson’s challenge on Eoin Kenny led to a corner, and from Daryl Horgan’s delivery, Kenny got the decisive touch to steer the ball past Stephen McMullan. It was a deserved opener for a Dundalk side playing with fluency and confidence.
They threatened again on 22 minutes when Horgan found space on the left and delivered a dangerous cross, but Kenny’s header was comfortably held. Waterford were struggling to impose themselves as Dundalk dictated the tempo.
The second goal arrived on 29 minutes and underlined Dundalk’s dominance. Kenny surged down the left and picked out Horgan, whose initial effort was blocked before he cleverly rolled the rebound into the path of Harry Groome. The midfielder did the rest, rifling an unstoppable shot from 18 yards into the net.
At 2-0, Dundalk were flying and nearly made it three moments later when Kenny’s angled effort clipped the outside of the post. The contest looked effectively over.
But Waterford had other ideas.
A warning sign came on 39 minutes when Lonergan hammered a strike off the post after clever work from Luke Heeney and Jordan Houston. That near miss sparked belief — and just before the break, they had their reward.
In first-half stoppage time, Benny Couto delivered a corner from the right, and Lonergan powered a header goalwards. Despite desperate efforts from Keith Buckley, the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line, halving the deficit and shifting the momentum heading into the interval.
Dundalk continued to create chances after the restart but failed to put the game beyond reach. Gbemi Arubi fired wide, while Kenny and Dean McMenamy both missed opportunities to restore a two-goal cushion. Dervin and Horgan also forced saves from McMullan, who kept Waterford in contention.
That proved crucial.
On 62 minutes, the visitors drew level. A Will Johnson effort from outside the area struck the arm of Robert Burns, and after a moment’s hesitation, referee Marc Lynch pointed to the spot. Lonergan stepped up and emphatically drove his penalty into the roof of the net to make it 2-2.
Suddenly, the improbable looked possible.
Waterford grew in belief, pushing for a winner as Dundalk wobbled. Enda Minogue produced a superb save to deny Hayden Cann, but the warning signs were there.
At the other end, Dundalk missed chances that would come back to haunt them. Kenny blazed over when well placed and later headed another opportunity off target when he should have done better.
And then came the decisive moment on 85 minutes.
Will Johnson launched a long throw into the Dundalk box, causing confusion in the home defence. The ball broke kindly for John Mahon, who reacted quickly to hook a right-footed effort past Minogue at his near post.
It was the decisive blow — and the final act in a remarkable Lazarus-like comeback.
From 2-0 down to 3-2 up, Waterford had completed a stunning revival that will live long in the memory. Dundalk, so dominant early on, were left to rue missed chances and a collapse that cost them dearly.
Minogue; Buckley, Burns, Cornwall, Wilson; Kenny, Groome (Tracey 68), Teehan, Dervin (Animasahun 74), Horgan; Arubi.
McMullan; Houston (Coyle 80), Cann, Mahon, Long, Couto; McMenamy (Voilas 56), Johnson, Heeney (Glenfield 56); Amond, Lonergan.
Marc Lynch (Galway)
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