Friendly Report: Dundalk 8 - 1 Waterford United

You can see Michael P Ryan and Larry McQuillan's photos from the game by clicking here.

Dundalk started brightly in this pre-season encounter against their First Division opposition, Waterford United with the Lillywhites eventually winning out on the back of an 8-1 score line.

Patrick McEleney, caused trouble down the left from the off, winning two corners in the opening few minutes. It was from the second of those corners that the home side took the lead from with Paddy Barrett striking brilliantly from ten yards out to find the top corner.

It wasn’t long before Dundalk gave themselves a two goal advantage, more good work from the left by McEleney before the ball made its way to Darren Meehan to cooly slot home with his left foot.

Waterford were really struggling to deal with Dundalk’s slick passing, which showed when some fantastic link up play between Ronan Finn and David McMillan allowed Finn to let fly from the edge of the box. Waterford’s keeper Robert Birdsall could only manage to parry into the path of Stephen O’Donnell who slotted the ball home to make it 3-0. 

A couple of minutes later and it was 4-0 after Finn curled a brilliant free-kick around the wall, which Birdsall got a hand to, but he still couldn't prevent it from hitting the back of the net.

Dundalk were in complete domination at this stage, with Waterford struggling to conjure up anything worthwhile to test Gabriel Sava in goal for the home side.

Chris Shields and Stephen O’Donnell were pulling the strings for Dundalk in the middle of the pitch, and were doing a brilliant job of keeping Dundalk flowing. The fifth goal came shortly before half-time when McEleney was at it again, giving the away side’s defence a terrible time before teeing up Georgie Poynton to fire home.

Dundalk came firing out of the break and quickly made it 6-0, a cross from the right found McEleney who's shot could only be parried, which landed at the feet of Finn, who nodded home for his second goal the game. 

Moments later out of the blue, Aaron O’Connor got a consolation goal for Waterford, picking up the ball 30 yards out before unleashing a brilliant strike into the top corner leaving Sava with no chance. 

The away side couldn’t push on from this and Dundalk continued to keep a firm grip over the game. The home side then got their seventh on the night when a lovely move between Daryl Horgan, Ciaran Kilduff and Finn resulted in an easy finish for Kilduff to tap home.

The last goal of the night once again involving the fantastic Ronan Finn, who played a lofted pass for Sean Gannon to run onto and lay it off to Kilduff to get his second of the night.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny could only be very pleased with the performance shown by his side as they dominated the game and were very easy on the eye. As for Waterford United’s manager Roddy Collins, although they were facing the SSE Airtricity Premier Division Champions he will have seen plenty that he can work on before the start of the season.

Dundalk: Gabriel Sava; Georgie Poynton (Sean Gannon 46), Andy Boyle, Paddy Barrett, Shane Grimes; Darren Meenan (John Mountney 66), Chris Shields, Stephen O’Donnell (Daryl Horgan 46), Patrick McEleney (Robbie Benson 66), Ronan Finn; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 46).

Subs Not Used: Gary Rogers

Booked: None 

Waterford United: Robert Birdsall; Dean Reidy (Richard Tobin 46), Rod Collins (Roy Butler 71), Shane Mackey, Sean Byrne (Dylan McGuire 51); Anthony McAlevey (Robbie Buckley 64), David O’ Leary, Thomas Croke (Emmet Coackley 46), Aaron O’Connor (David Eghe-Ohenmwen 71); Philly Gorman (Jake Mooney 56), Yohan Fellrath (Dean Broaders 18).

Subs Not Used: Cory Chambers

Booked: None

Referee: Tom Connolly

Attendance: 700 (est.)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Patrick McEleney (Dundalk)