Caoimhín Reilly reports from Oriel Park
DUNDALK ADVANCED TO the next round of the FAI Cup with a 4-0 victory over Derry City at Oriel Park tonight — a brace from John Mountney, a David McMillan penalty and Michael Duffy’s late effort doing the damage.
In a rip-roaring contest, typical of a cup tie, a result in Dundalk’s favour looked inevitable from an early stage, despite Derry contributing largely to the entertaining viewing.
The Candystripes’ efforts were handicapped considering they conceded after just 43 seconds. Lax defending allowed Seán Gannon the freedom of the right-hand side to pick out the waiting winger, who converted from inside the six-yard box to put Stephen Kenny’s men in front.
Dundalk merited their one goal advantage at half-time, however, had Duffy brought his shooting boots, they would have been out of sight. The midfielder — who was playing against his hometown club — fired six first-half shots off target, one of which rattled the crossbar.
And the winger’s wastefulness was almost punished in the lead-up to half-time as Aaron McEneff also shot off the woodwork with Gary Rogers beaten in the home goal.
A goal down at the break, Derry’s hopes of overturning their deficit were all but ended when Dean Jarvis hauled McMillan to the ground as the forward attempted to reach Brian Gartland’s header across goal.
McMillan stepped up and from 12 yards he fired his side’s second major to the roof of the net.
Having come back from two goals behind in last year’s semi final, Derry continued to fight and it took inspired defending from Dane Massey to clear Ronan Curtis’ goalbound effort off the goal line.
Those efforts proved in vain, however, as Mountney fired home the goal of the game from 30 yards before Duffy raced away to complete the rout as the game entered injury time.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Seán Gannon, Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Stephen O’Donnell (Jamie McGrath 85), Robbie Benson; John Mountney, Patrick McEleney (Chris Shields 75), Michael Duffy; David McMillan (Thomas Stewart 76)
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Lucas Schubert, Darren Cole, Aaron Barry, Dean Jarvis; Nicky Low, Barry McNamee; Nathan Boyle (Jozef Dolny 58), Aaron McEneff, Ronan Curtis (Ben Doherty 69); Rory Patterson
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
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Dundalk have really gelled now. Too late of course for the league for promising for the remaining of the season and the going forward.
@Paul: Looking forward to 2nd round draw tonight, could it be City v Dundalk? What a cracker that would be….
@running man: hopefully