Dundalk 4-0 Bray Wanderers
The Oriel Park faithful saluted their all conquering heroes last night as Dundalk broke yet another record amidst scenes of jubilation at the border venue.
Dundalk started the game needing four goals to overhaul Shamrock Rovers’ 92-year old total of 77 in a season and, fittingly, it was a late double from Richie Towell that smashed the record.
The win wrapped up an incredible league season for the Lilywhites. Twenty three wins from 33 played, nine draws and just a solitary defeat illustrate just how good Stephen Kenny’s current crop of players are.
They will head to the Aviva Stadium next weekend looking to become the third team in the club’s history to win the league and FAI Cup double when they face a Cork City side who eventually finished 10 points adrift at the champions.
“These players are special,” said Kenny. “In a football culture of pragmatism and win at all costs, it’s not the fact that this team has won back to back titles that has captured the public’s imagination. It is the way these players have won.
“All of the players have flourished and made a contribution and the sheer volume of goals scored - 109 to date - has been a joy to witness.
“We could never have envisaged winning the league so comfortably and we are excited about playing in the FAI Cup final next weekend.”
Just five minutes had elapsed before the party got into full swing. Darren Meenan hared away on the right and his cross was tapped home by Ciaran Kilduff.
Bray conceded eight in the corresponding fixture in May and there were real fears they were heading that way again when Daryl Horgan nipped in front of Michael Barker to make it 2-0 with ten minutes yet to be played.
Bray were cut apart again shortly after as Dundalk zipped the ball around on the left flank with Richie Towell setting up Ronan Finn for a drive that went just off target.
With the FAI Cup final just nine days away, Dundalk were given a major scare captain Stephen O’Donnell headed down the tunnel after 24 minutes, the skipper replaced by Chris Shields.
The home side continued to pour forward and a brilliant interchange between Kilduff and Towell should have yielded a third in the 38th minute but Barker did enough to force the Lilywhites striker wide and block the effort at the expense of a corner.
Kilduff was instrumental again three minutes later, rising to cushion Brian Gartland’s pass into the path of Darren Meenan who saw his attempt blocked by Peter Cherrie - a title winner with Dundalk 12 months ago.
The second-half opened in a similar vein to the first with Horgan leaving Hugh Douglas in his wake to close in on goal but he scooped the ball over the top.
A second-half downpour failed to dampen the carnival atmosphere and the third goal arrived with ten minutes to go when Richie Towell sent Peter Cherrie the wrong way from the penalty spot and the star midfielder created history when he shot past Cherrie in the final minute to record his 25th goal of an incredible campaign for Dundalk.
Dundalk: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Towell, O'Donnell (Shields 24); Meenan, Finn (Mountney 61), Horgan; Kilduff (McMillan 71).
Bray Wanderers: Cherrie; Barker, McNally, Cooney; Douglas, Fitzpatrick (Sullivan HT), McEvoy, Kelly, Wixted (Cassidy HT); Hanlon, Lyons (Scully 64).
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
Attendance: 3419.
Galway United 0 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
During the past couple of decades St Patrick’s Athletic have enjoyed several thrilling European adventures so thus victory pocketed in the west brought a degree of satisfaction.
Champions only two years ago there is no doubt that the Saints league campaign will be viewed as a disappointment. An EA Sports triumph in September hinted at the potential within the Saints ranks so manager Liam Buckley will be especially keen to keep the majority of his squad for the significant challenges which await next year.
Pat’s required a point on the banks of the Corrib and from an early stage last night it was apparent that they would travel back to the capital armed with at least that. Buckley’s side were vastly superior to Galway in most departments, but their ability to move the ball swiftly on the deck was telling.
In the centre of the park James Chambers and Killian Brennan dovetailed nicely ensuring Galway were never allowed to generate any momentum.
The opening quarter was dominated by the visitors, who passed and probed as Galway struggled initially. Chances were crafted by the Saints, but Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn was alert in the seventh minute when saving from Christy Fagan following a deep Ger O’Brien cross.
Pat’s continued to use skipper O’Brien, who was scampering forward impressively, and Galway were being pegged back. Sean Hoare’s long range effort skimmed the post in the eighth minute, while Kenny Browne headed a Killian Brennan corner narrowly wide moments later.
O’Brien, Chambers, and Fagan all went close before the half hour mark as Galway were scrambling to stay afloat. On the stroke of half-time Pat’s pinched the goal they richly deserved as Fagan crossed for Aaron Greene, who provided a neat close range finish.
Eleven minutes after the restart another inviting Brennan corner was headed wide by Greene as Pat’s were anxious to add a second. Galway custodian Winn made a fine stop to thwart a fiercely struck Fagan attempt on 65.
Brennan fizzed a 69th minute free-kick inches over as Pat’s remained firmly in control against the ailing Tribesmen. In the dying stages the only item of note was the debut afforded to teenage Galway reserve ‘keeper Kevin Horgan, who joined his brother Colm on the Eamonn Deacy Park. One hundred and fifty miles away at Oriel Park their oldest brother, Daryl, was claiming his second league title for Dundalk.
Galway United: Winn (K Horgan, 89), C Horgan, Oji (Curran, 46), Walsh, Ludden; Shanahan, Raftery, Sinnott, Melody (Saarelma, 85); Connolly; Keegan.
St Patrick's Athletic: O'Malley; O'Brien, Hoare, Browne, Bermingham; Byrne, Chambers, Brennan (Morris, 85), Greene; McGrath; Fagan (Langley, 84).
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).
Longford Town 4 Derry City 2
Goals from David O’Sullivan, Mark Rossiter, Gary Shaw and Pat Sullivan maintained Longford’s end of season flourish to ensure a top six league finish.
Longford started positively with Ayman Ben Mohamed seeing his cross-cum-shot tipped onto the bar by City keeper Shaun Patton 13 minutes in.
Derry had Patton to thank again for the save of the first half on 37 minutes. Kevin O’Connor let fly with a stinging right-foot drive from some 35 yards and Patton got a finger tip to it to turn it out for a corner.
But the overworked 20-year-old Derry keeper was finally beaten two minutes into added time at the end of the first half.
Visiting right-back Rob Cornwall handled Sullivan’s cross to concede a penalty. O’Sullivan rifled home the spot kick despite Patton getting hand to the ball.
Longford remained the better side into the second half, doubling their lead on 56 minutes. Little appeared on as defender Rossiter ran onto a clearance some 40 yards out to find the net off a post.
Shaw added the third goal on 63 minutes, heading home Rice’s free kick at the back post.
Patton then pulled down Shaw to concede a 68th minute penalty that was drvien home by Sullivan.
Substitute Ronan Curtis headed in Stephen Dooley’s cross for Derry’s first goal back on 77th minutes before Cornwall drilled home following a scramble a minutes form time
Longford Town: Hunt; Sullivan, Gorman, Rossiter, Powell; Gannon; Shaw (Kelly, 70), Rice, O'Connor (Salmon, 74), Ben Mohamed; O'Sullivan (Simon, 70).
Derry City: Patton; Cornwall, McBride, Barry, McClean; McEneff, McNamee; Timlin (Curtis, h/t), Dooley, McEleney; O'Connor (Quigley, h/t).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
