Dundalk set new League of Ireland scoring record

Dundalk finally got their hands on the Premier Division title they retained earlier this month when they ran out 4-0 winners against Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park tonight.

The result also meant a new record for the Lilywhites who have now scored the most goals in a League of Ireland season

Strikes from Ciaran Kilduff and Daryl Horgan had Stephen Kenny’s side 2-0 up after just nine minutes but it took a late brace from Richie Towell to take Dundalk’s goal tally for the campaign to 78 – one more than the previous record set by Shamrock Rovers in 1922/23.

Kilduff set the ball rolling when he tapped in Darren Meenan’s cross in the fifth minute before Horgan added a second four minutes later after a slack back pass.

Despite plenty of pressure, the third goal didn’t arrive until 10 minutes from the end though when Towell slotted home a penalty.

He then fired home in the 89^th minute for his 25^th league goal of the season and Dundalk’s record breaking 78^th.

Captain Stephen O’Donnell collected the title afterwards and here’s hoping he’s lifting the FAI Cup as well on Sunday week.

Dundalk held by Galway Utd

Champions Dundalk were held to only their second scoreless draw of the season against relegation threatened Galway Utd at Oriel Park last night.

Stephen Kenny made five changes to the side which clinched the league title away to Shamrock Rovers the previous week with John Mountney, Shane Grimes, Sean Maguire, Ciaran Kilduff and Gabriel Sava all coming into the side in place of Gary Rogers, Dane Massey, David McMillan, Daryl Horgan and Richie Towell, who was sidelined by plurisy.

Mountney and Horgan hit the post in either half but Galway were full value for their point with Sava making two good saves from Jake Keegan.

Next up for the Lilywhites is a trip to face Cork City next Friday.

Dundalk one game away from title after Limerick win

Dundalk recovered from the worst possible start to run out 3-1 winners away to bottom of the table Limerick FC in Markets Field last night.

The victory, inspired by three goals in six minutes in the closing quarter, means Stephen Kenny’s side are one win away from retaining the title for the first time in the club’s history – a feat they will manage by beating Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on October 9th.

Dundalk had to do things the hard way as they fell behind to a Dean Clarke goal inside the opening two minutes.

The visitors pressed hard for an equaliser after that but it didn’t arrive until the 76th minute when Richie To well raced onto Ciaran Kilduff’s knock down to slot home.

Towell then made it a club record 21 league goals for the campaign four minutes later when his deflected shot from a tight angle flew to the net.

Kilduff then made sure of the win two minutes later by beating the offside trap to slot home.

Dundalk to host Longford Town in FAI Cup semi-finals

Dundalk have been drawn at home to Longford Town in the semi-finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup.

The draw was made live on RTÉ Radio this morning.

Bray Wanderers will face either Cork City or Derry City in the other last four tie.

Stephen Kenny will be aiming to beat the side where he kickstarted his managerial career.

The Lilywhites booked their place in the semi-finals with a 4-0 win over Sligo Rovers on Friday night with Daryl Horgan, Ciaran Kilduff, Ronan Finn and Sean Maguire on target.

The two matches will be played back to back on Sunday October 4^th, live on RTÉ Two, with the winners advancing to the final in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday November 8^th.

The Louth County Final is scheduled to take place the same day as the FAI Cup semi-finals.

Dundalk cruise into FAI Cup semi-finals

Dundalk FC cruised into the semi-finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup with a 4-0 victory over Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park last night.

On top right from the off, Stephen Kenny’s side had to wait until the 55th minute to make the breakthrough with Daryl Horgan firing home from 30 yards out.

Ciaran Kilduff then added a second (see below) when he flicked a Darren Meenan free kick over Richard Brush before Ronan Finn continued his fine scoring form with a well taken third.

Substitute Sean Maguire then completed the rout late on when he raced clear to slot to the net.

The draw for the last four is on Monday with Dundalk set to face either Bray Wanderers, Longford Town or Derry City/Cork City, who meet in a replay on Monday.

Dundalk move seven points clear with victory over Derry City

Dundalk FC moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier Division table following victory over Derry City last night.

A 2-0 win at the Brandywell, coupled with Cork City losing 3-2 at home to bottom club Limerick FC, means Stephen Kenny’s side remain in pole position to retain their title.

The game swung in Dundalk’s favour when Greenore man Conor McCormack was sent off for a challenge on Sean Gannon after 24 minutes.

With the numerical advantage, Dundalk’s pressure eventually told in first half stoppage time when Ciaran Kilduff latched onto a Dane Massey pass to fire home.

After being frustrated for long periods of the second half the Lilywhites finally made sure of the win in the 88th minute with substitute David McMillan scoring from another Massey pass.

Dundalk now host third placed St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park on Monday night.

Kilduff strikes on debut to earn victory for Dundalk over Bray Wanderers

Ciaran Kilduff came off the bench to grab a debut goal that earned Dundalk a 1-0 win away to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds last night.

The result keeps the Lilywhites six points clear of Cork City at the top of the table with 12 matches to go.

The crucial moment came in the 74th minute when the new recruit from St Patrick’s Athletic got his head on the end of a Daryl Horgan cross to steer his header past Peter Cherrie.

In the first half both Ronan Finn and Horgan had hit the crossbar within moments of each other while Richie Towell squandered a good chance to wrap the game up late on when he fired into the side-netting after being put clear through by Kilduff.

Dave Scully did have a good chance to level matters for Bray but Gary Rogers pulled off a magnificent low stop to ensure Dundalk took the spoils in the end.

Dundalk add Sean Maguire to their ranks

Maguire after signing for Dundalk today. Picture: http://www.dundalkfc.com

Dundalk have added to their squad following the signing of former West Ham striker Sean Maguire this evening.

The Irish underage international was released by the Hammers at the end of last season and comes into Stephen Kenny’s squad following the transfer of Jake Kelly to Bohemians this afternoon.

Maguire made his League of Ireland debut with Waterford Utd, featuring in their promotion/relegation play-off defeat against the Lilywhites in 2012, before moving to England. During his time with West Ham he had loan spells at both Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley

The 21-year-old is Dundalk’s second attacking addition of the transfer window following the capture of Ciaran Kilduff from St Patrick’s Athletic earlier this week.

Dundalk complete signature of Ciaran Kilduff

Ciaran Kilduff

Dundalk FC have completed the signing of striker Ciaran Kilduff from St Patrick’s Athletic.

The 26-year-old made his League of Ireland debut with Shamrock Rovers in 2006.

He spent two seasons with the club, including a loan spell at Kildare County in 2008, before departing to join UCD where his goals helped them to the First Division title and stability in the top flight in 2009 and 2010.

The striker re-joined Shamrock Rovers where he picked up a league title and played in the Europa League before spending five months on loan at Cork City in 2013.

The 26 year-old took the decision to leave Tallaght at the end of the 2014 season after three years at the club and joined St. Pat’s where he scored three goals in nine starts this season.

He will go straight into Stephen Kenny’s squad for Friday night’s trip to face Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.

McMillan the favourite to be Dundalk’s top scorer this year

The new SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season gets underway on Friday night with champions Dundalk hosting Longford Town at Oriel Park.

The new campaign also brings about a new betting market with Paddy Power backing the club’s new number nine David McMillan to follow in his predecessor Pat Hoban’s footsteps by being the league’s leading scorer this season.

The former UCD striker is 12/1 to be the league’s leading marksman, with new signing Ronan Finn next in the betting at 20/1.

Richie Towell and Kurtis Byrne are both 22/1 while defender Brian Gartland – who plundered eight in the league last season – is 40/1.

New signing Jake Kelly is 50/1, while former Lilywhite Mark Griffin – now at Bohemians – is 100/1.

Christy Fagan is the 4/1 favourite for top scorer with Danny North (Shamrock Rovers) 10/1 and Ciaran Kilduff (St Patrick’s Athletic), Conan Byrne (St Patrick’s Athletic) and Mark O’Sullivan (Cork City) all 12/1. You can view the full betting market here.

Meanwhile Dundalk are 11/4 joint second favourites with Shamrock Rovers to lift the title, with St Patrick’s Athletic the 5/2 favourites.