Dundalk 7-0 Drogheda United By Darren Crawley May 20, 2014 Dundalk produced a simply stunning display on Tuesday evening as they routed Drogheda United 7-0 at Oriel Park! Goals from Sean Gannon, Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle, a Paul Crowley og, Richie Towell and a brace from David McMillan sealed victory as a second half blitz saw Dundalk return to the top of the league! A quick early break saw Daryl Horgan force a good save from Dave Ryan in the Drogheda United goal after he was expertly put through by Darren Meenan before Richie Towell scuffed a shot wide just moments later. The Lilywhites dominated the opening exchanges and should have went in front when Meenan’s corner was perfectly placed onto the head of Brian Gartland but his effort went just over the bar. Kurtis Byrne then came close when a long ball by Richie Towell was cleared by Alan McNally but only to the advancing Byrne but his shot was just narrowly wide of the post with Dave Ryan stranded. Byrne again had an effort from just outside the box but the former Hibernian star blazed over with his first time attempt. Drogheda began to get into the game more on more but on 29 minutes, Dundalk got the lead goal that their play deserved when a wonderful run from Dane Massey, in which he ghosted past 4 defenders, left him one on one with Ryan and unselfishly he squared it for the onrushing Gannon who took a touch and calmly finished past Ryan. The goal appeared to settle play down but Dundalk continued to press with a wonderful flowing move just before half-time resulted in Patrick Hoban missing the chance and Daryl Horgan then shot at Ryan. The Boynesiders really didn’t have much to shout about during the first half but should have been level when a Gavin Holohan cross was met by Declan O’Brien but his strike was blocked by Chris Shields. Dundalk went fully into control almost immediately after the re-start when a quick break from Towell found Gannon. His clever low cross found Hoban who laid it off to Byrne but his effort was saved by Ryan who could only parry to Horgan as he smashed to the net. The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the aftermath of the goal as Eric Foley received his marching orders for a second yellow card. Just past the hour mark it was 3-0 when a hopeful Chris Shields punt caught out the Drogheda United defence and the ball knocked the hear of Paul Crowley and he watched it go over the keeper Ryan and into the net. A wonderful effort from Byrne was tipped over the bar by Ryan but it was only a brief reprieve as from the resulting corner, the visitors failed to clear the ball and Andy Boyle who prodded home on the line. Seconds later it was five when a wonderful through ball from Horgan found substitute David McMillan and he rifled the ball past Ryan. The Lilywhites were in dreamland and with just over 10 minutes later it was six when a brilliant darting run on the right from Meenan saw him find space and his cross was directed to Towell who, despite not catching it cleanly, shot into the ground and into the net. The return to league action of Keith Ward received the biggest cheer of the night and he got involved but his free-kick was blocked by the Drogheda wall. It was 7-0 when a truly wonderful ball from Ward fed McMillan and he slotted past Ryan. The game was seen out by the hosts as they recorded their biggest ever win under Stephen Kenny! DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell; Darren Meenan, Kurtis Byrne(Kurtis Byrne 80), Daryl Horgan(Mark Griffin 72); Patrick Hoban(David McMillan 64). Substitutes not used: Ruaidhri Higgins, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Gabriel Sava (GK)
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 22:37:48 +0000
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