F.A.I Ford cup. Dundalk3-0 Sligo Rovers Goals from Dave McMillan, Daryl Horgan and Brian Gartland safely guaranteed Dundalks passage to the quarter finals of the F.A.I Ford cup against last years cup holders and Setanta Cup champions Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park. In truth it was a very accomplished performance from Stephen Kennys charges who were never really in any danger in this cup tie. The first goal from Dave McMillan was worth the admission fee alone from the long ball by Gartland to the touch and lay off from Richie Towell to the finish from McMillan. It was in the words of Andy Gray “Take a bow son take a bow!!”. It was a very cagey opening quarter to the tie with Sligo Rovers content to sit back and invite pressure from the home side and hit them on the counter attack which nearly culminated in the first goal for the “Bit ORed”. Eric Odhiambo received the ball with his back to goal, turned Brian Gartland superbly before playing a wonderful one/two with the tricky Aaron Greene before dragging wide. An end product in which the approch play deserved better. A minute later Darren Meenan who worked hard for Dundalk throughout played the ball through to Dave McMillan who was up against his brother Evan McMillan who was centre back for the visitors but on this occasion was denied by Gary Rogers between the sticks for Sligo. 20 minutes gone and after an excellent passing move from the hosts involving Chris Shields and Meenan who teed up McMillan who fired over the bar after being off balance as he hit it. 2 minutes later Brian Gartland nearly got on the end of a Meenan free kick but was denied brillaintly by defender Kalen Spillane. From the resulting corner Dane Massey was denied by Rogers from about 2 yards out from another menacing Meenan corner. Daryl Horgan who is enjoy a hot streak of late was next to test Rogers in the “Bit ORed” goal emanating from a McMillan lay off. The “Shed” could sense a goal was coming and they were up celebrating when they thought the industrious Chris Shields had put the home side ahead but to the dissappointment of the Oriel Park faithful it was the wrong side of the post. But on 31 minutes they were up and celebrating with delight when Dave McMillan berried the ball past Rogers to give Dundee the lead that they richly deserved. Brian Gartland picked up the ball in his own half spotted Richie Towell free on the left hand side, played the ball exquisitly onto the foot of Towell who put it on a plate for McMillan who rifled the ball top the roof of the net past a hapless Gary Rogers. Towell fired wide minutes wide before Kurtis Byrne fired staright at Rogers from a Sean Gannon cut back who also impressed throughout. Half time came and manager Iain Barraclough would surely be relieved that his side were only 1-0 down when it could and possibly should have been more. A minute into the second half and Dundalk made their dominance count by taking a 2-0 lead through that man again Daryl Horgan. Dave McMillan received the ball with his back to goal before laying it off to the arriving Daryl Horgan who steered the ball to the bottom corner passed Gary Rogers from the right hand corner of the penalty area. Just what the doctor ordered at the start of the second half. After 50 minutes Peter Cherrie had to be at his sharpest to keep out a Danny North header from a Ross Gaynor(Ex Dundalk) free kick. 5 minutes later Dundee broke away. Kurtis Byrne played in Dane Massey who pulled it back to Richie Towell who teed up the marauding Darren Meenan whose shot was bravely blocked by the Sligo defence. Richie Towell then fired across the face of the goal with nobody in a Dundee shirt to take advantage. On 66 minutes Dundee killed this game off as a contest by bagging goal number 3 through Brian Gartland. Darren Meenan skillfuuly back heeled the ball to Dane Massey who rolled the ball through to McMillan who pulled the ball back and from a scramble Gartland fired the ball to the roof of the net for 3-0. Richie Towell fired wide from another Massey cut back. Danny North fired straight at Cherrie at the other end. Dave Millan was denied by Rogers at the other. John Russel dragged a shot wide for Sligo with just Cherrie to beat. And that was that. The dream of a first double for the Lillywhites since 1988. Ohh WE DARE TO DREAM!! Full time:Dundalk 3-0 Sligo Rovers. Dundalk: 1.Peter Cherrie, 2.Sean Gannon,3.Brian Gartland,4.Andy Boyle(c),14.Dane Massey,5.Chris Shields, 17.Richie Towell(15.Mark Griffin 87), 7.Daryl Horgan(12.Ruardhi Higgins), 21.Darren Meenan, 11.Kurtis Byrne(8.John Mountney 63), 16.David McMillan.Unused subs: 22Gabriel Sava(GK), 18.Mark Rossiter, 19.Simon Kelly, 25.Ciaran OConnor. Sligo Rovers:1.Gary Rogers, 22.Eric Odhiambo (10.Raffaele Cretaro 58),5.Evan McMillan,16.Kalen Spillane,11.Ross Gaynor,18.John Russell,15.Joseph NDo(9.Sean Maguire 81),3.Danny Ledwith,14.Paul OConnor,7.Danny North©. Unused subs: 12.Richard Brush(GK),27.Regan Donelan, 35.Jordan Loftus,
Posted on: Sat, 07 Jun 2014 23:06:48 +0000
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