League Report: Dundalk 3 - 0 Drogheda United

Dundalk survived a few early scares but ended up with a comfortable three goals victory over Drogheda United in their league encounter at Oriel Park on Friday night.

The Boynesiders began the game very much on the front foot and almost took the lead after five minutes only for the outstretched boot of Brian Gartland to hook the ball off the line with Gary Rogers beaten. However, the Meath man took matters into his hands twenty minutes later as Thomas Byrne tried a delicious lob which was pushed over the bar to preserve his clean sheet.

Dundalk gradually grew into the game and began to impress their mark upon the fabric of the game without actually threatening the goal defended by Stephen McGuinness and his defence.

That was, until they were awoken by the Rogers reprieve, after which a long distance Steven Kinsella effort sailed into the midriff of the visiting netminder and Dylan Connolly cracked a pot shot off the post.

It looked like half time was going to bring a forty five minute goalless period- a rare occurrence at Oriel Park these days. Brian Gartland had other ideas as he swung in a delightful cross from deep on the right.

David McMillan’s excellent header was clawed out superbly by McGuinness only for the onrushing Kinsella to hammer the ball to the net on forty two minutes.

The Lilywhites lost their goalscorer to injury with less than three minutes on the clock in the second half, his replacement the lively Michael Duffy. Shortly afterwards they extended their advantage as Sean Gannon’s floated cross was headed expertly to the net by the prolific McMillan from 12 yards out.

McGuinness continued to frustrate the Dundalk attack as the Lilywhites sought to kill the game off and the third goal didn’t arrive until the final moments of the game.

Former Celtic winger Duffy exploited the space created by the early departure of Thomas Byrne to a second yellow card with less than ten minutes remaining to skip inside Shane Elworthy and curl the ball low into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Comfortable in the end for Stephen Kenny’s men but positives to take for Pete Mahon’s relegation threatened team.

Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Stephen O Donnell, Conor Clifford (Robbie Benson, 70) ; Dylan Connolly, Jamie Mc Grath (Patrick McEleney, 77) , Steven Kinsella (Michael Duffy, 47) ; David Mc Millan

Subs: Gabriel Sava, Shane Grimes, Sean Hoare, Chris Shields

Booked: Gartland (33), Clifford (35)

DroghedaUnited: Stephen Mc Guinness; Colm Deasy (Stephen Elliott, 63) Mulcahy, Lloyd Buckley, Stephen Dunne; Shane Elworthy, Ryan Mc Evoy, Sean Brennan (Jack Bayly, 81) Richie Purdy, Adam Wixted (Mark Doyle, 71) Thomas Byrne

Subs: Harry Hogan, Kevin Farragher, Ryan Masterson, Jamie Hollywood

Booked: Byrne  (52+81 second yellow), Mulcahy (53), Buckley (67)

Sent-Off: Byrne (81)

Referee: Rob Harvey

Attendance: 2000 (est)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Gannon