Heartbreak for Dundalk fans as European adventure comes to an end in Israel

Lady luck was not smiling over Dundalk on Thursday night.

Stephen Kenny knew that a victory for his side in Israel was not enough to guarantee them qualification to the knockout stages of the Europa League but, unfortunately for them, they couldn't even manage that as it appeared that the Lilywhites' long season finally caught up with them. The writing was on the wall from the first halves in Group D as leaders Zenit St. Petersburg, from whom Dundalk needed a favour, fell 2-0 down before the break, while the League of Ireland champions were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline in Israel as they entered the dressing rooms. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/806934390949498884 Zenit, playing for nothing, pulled one back in the second half and provided some hope for Dundalk but that was short-lived as Alkmaar again put space between the sides as they looked to secure the second qualifying spot as their own. The only remaining goal of the group came via Zenit, whose 3-2 defeat was the final blow on a night on which nothing went right for Dundalk. But, to be fair to the Irish side, they pushed to the very end for an equaliser in a bid to give their travelling support something to cheer for. It wasn't to be. But there was nothing but pride from the side's supporters. And rightly so. https://twitter.com/ElChiefMoore/status/806950275332313088 https://twitter.com/iwasrats/status/806949562262945793 https://twitter.com/SeamusMadda/status/806949509796335616 https://twitter.com/eirSport/status/806949325485940736 https://twitter.com/djoyce18/status/806949768295514113 https://twitter.com/TolstoyFC/status/806949712427421696 https://twitter.com/mickm1/status/806950094679445505 https://twitter.com/jamesdundalk/status/806950039486660608 https://twitter.com/Ciaran_O/status/806950002983464960 https://twitter.com/little_football/status/806949941344137216 https://twitter.com/RoryCar98/status/806950163159937025 https://twitter.com/carrickvancleef/status/806950313823326208 https://twitter.com/Niall94_/status/806950298073858048 https://twitter.com/SaoirseT98/status/806950473731346432 https://twitter.com/stephen7502/status/806950442357891072 Diarmuid Connolly makes his long overdue GAA Hour debut and talks to Colm Parkinson about everything from the black card to his rivalry with Lee Keegan and how he honed the ability to kick accurately with either foot.