Soccer

Dundalk score three first-half goals as they keep presssure on Shamrock Rovers at the top

Shelbourne take advantage of another UCD red card to consolidate mid-table position

Dundalk's Keith Ward celebrates scoring his side’s second goal during the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division match against Finn Harps at Oriel Park. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Fri Jul 22 2022 - 22:02

Dundalk 3 Finn Harps 0

A first-half flurry allowed Dundalk to take advantage of Shamrock Rovers’ Friday night off and reduce the deficit at the top of the Premier Division until Saturday afternoon at least.

Dundalk appeared poised to mount an immediate challenge to Rovers’ position at the summit until a defeat against Drogheda United and last weekend’s draw with St Pat’s stalled their momentum. Now, Stephen O’Donnell’s side are relying on their local rivals to strike a blow against the champions at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday.

They fulfilled their side of the bargain with a comprehensive victory against beleaguered Finn Harps, who remain above last place by virtue of goal difference only. The hosts scored three goals in the opening half of a league game for the first time in almost two years to extinguish any hopes of an upset.

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[ Premier Division table ]

Darragh Leahy lashed in the first after Steven Bradley’s effort in the area was blocked and fell kindly for the left back. With under six minutes on the clock, Dundalk led by two. An excellent move ended when Greg Sloggett executed a pull back for Keith Ward who, unmarked, swept the ball into an empty net.

Bradley himself scored the third, which was the best of the bunch. The young Scot had notched four in his first three games for the club but hadn’t found the net since. His drough was broken in style, cutting in from the right and curling an exquisite effort into the far top corner, beyond the despairing dive of a beaten Mark Anthony McGinley.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Macari (Mountney, 76 mins), Bone, Boyle, Leahy; Doyle; Bradley (McMillan, 85 mins), Sloggett, Ward (Adams, 67 mins), Kelly (O’Kane, 67); Hoban (Martin, 76 mins).

FINN HARPS: McGinley; Tourish, McGing, Slevin; Boyle, Connolly, Rainey (Nicolson, 66 mins), McNamee (Timlin, 66 mins), Donelon (Duncan, 74 mins); Mihaljevic; Jones (Carillo, 83 mins).

Referee: Adriano Reale

UCD 0 Shelbourne 2

UCD paid the penalty once again in finishing with 10 men as Shelbourne came away from the UCD Bowl with all three points.

The Students remain bottom as Shelbourne consolidate in mid-table after back-to-back wins.

With manager Damien Duff vocal on the line, Shelbourne laboured to play their way into the game against a well-organised UCD side who passed the ball better throughout a dour first half.

It was 37 minutes before the game registered an effort on goal, College’s Seán Brennan setting up Donal Higgins whose drive lacked the venom to trouble Brendan Clarke.

Conor Kane carved a real chance for Shelbourne just before half-time. The opening wasted by Shane Farrell not getting hold of his shot which was comfortably gathered by Lorcan Healy.

With Brian McManus on for ineffective debutant Josh Giurgi at half-time, Shelbourne showed far more urgency on the resumption and were ahead within 10 minutes.

It should have come sooner but for a shocking miss by Seán Boyd who sliced wide with the goal gaping after Healy had scooped a clearance into the air.

Within a minute, Jack Moylan burst through into the area to be pulled down by Jack Keaney.

After the UCD captain was shown a straight red card, Boyd displayed more conviction to drive the spot kick into the bottom corner, his seventh goal of the season and the eighth penalty UCD have conceded.

Dan Carr, on for Boyd, added a stunning second goal for Shelbourne two minutes into added time, collecting Kane’s pass to curl a terrific shot past Healy from outside the area.

UCD: Healy; Gallagher, Keaney, Todd, Osam (Haist, 83 mins); Higgins (Lonergan, 57 mins), Duffy; Dignam (Ryan, 57 mins), Keane, Brennan (Dunne, 57 mins); Duffy (Nolan, 72 mins).

SHELBOURNE: Clarke; Griffin, Byrne, Ledwidge (O’Driscoll, 88 mins); Lunney, Molloy (Dervin, 89 mins); Giurgi (McManus, h-t), Moylan, Kane; Boyd (Carr, 85 mins), Farrell.

Referee: John McLoughlin.