Dundalk move top with demolition of Drogheda

Dundalk moved two points clear at the top of the Premier Division table with a 7-0 hammering of neighbours Drogheda United at Oriel Park last night.

Stephen Kenny’s men took a one goal lead into the half-time break thanks to Sean Gannon before turning on the afterburners in the second-half by adding six more without reply.

The result leaves the Lilywhites sitting pretty at the summit, two points ahead of Cork City and Shamrock Rovers. It also gives Dundalk’s fans the local bragging rites again following the 4-1 loss to the Drogs on the opening night of the season.

The hosts started with intent and Drogheda United goalkeeper David Ryan was called into action after just 25 seconds. A quick burst of passing between Darren Meenan and Daryl Horgan ended with the latter seeing his curling effort palmed away.

Ryan was almost left red faced soon after. Richie Towell’s attempted pass for Patrick Hoban was cut out by Paul Andrews. Kurtis Byrne met the clearance with an instinctive first-time effort from 30-yards but his effort went just wide with the goalkeeper stranded.

The visitors lacked imagination going forward and it wasn’t until the 28th minute that they had some semblance of an opportunity. Ciaran McGuigan found space 25-yards from goal but he shanked his effort well over the top.

Dundalk’s pressure eventually told a minute later as both of their full-backs combined in devastating fashion.

Dane Massey’s slaloming run on the left took him into the Drogs penalty and away from Ryan. His cut-back to the near post was turned home by Sean Gannon for the youngster’s first competitive goal at Oriel Park.

Dundalk are renowned as a second-half team and so it proved yet again after the interval.

Things could have been so different had Eric Foley’s in-swinging free-kick from the left crept into the net instead of kissing the post and going behind in the 48th minute.

That proved to be as close as Drogheda came as the home side quickly put the game to bed.

Another slick piece of football resulted in goal number two after 51 minutes. Meenan’s cut-back found Hoban on the penalty spot. His lay-off was hammered goalwards by Byrne and when Ryan could only parry, Horgan was on hand to sweep home.

To make matters worse for Drogheda, Foley was sent-off in the aftermath for dissent.

The wheels completely fell off for Drogheda five minutes later. Chris Shields’ lofted pass into box led to a mix-up in communication with substitute Paul Crowley heading the ball over the hapless Ryan and into his own net.

Two goals in the space of two minutes took the score to 5-0.

Andy Boyle stooped to head home at the far post in the 72nd minute before a driving run by Gannon was finished off in emphatic style by substitute David McMillan.

Richie Towell got in on the act with 12 minutes to play, turning home another devilish cross from Meenan before Keith Ward, making his league return after almost 12 months out, supplied a delicious pass for McMillan to hit the magnificent seventh late on.

Dundalk: Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Towell, Shields; Meenan, Byrne (Ward 79), Horgan (Griffin 73); Hoban (McMillan 64).

Drogheda United: Ryan; Daly, Andrews, McNally, Grimes; Holohan, Foley, McGuigan, Walshe (Crowley 57); O’Brien (O’Connor 76), O’Neill (Hughes 73).

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

Attendance: 2383.

Disastrous start for Dundalk as Drogheda inflict heavy opening day defeat

Dundalk’s Stephen O’Donnell tussles with Drogheda Utd’s Declan O’Brien last night

Dundalk’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division campaign could hardly have got off to a worse start as they crashed to a 4-1 defeat against neighbours Drogheda Utd in United Park last night.

Despite dominating in the early stages, Stephen Kenny’s side never took advantage with league debutant Daryl Horgan going closest on a couple of occasions, including with a cheeky chip attempt.

The visitors then took the lead somewhat against the run of play when Eric Foley curled a 35 yard free kick to the top left hand corner of the net, giving Peter Cherrie no chance.

With tensions rising two substitutes were sent off in the tunnel, reported to be Drogheda’s Philly Hughes and Dundalk’s Simon Kelly but if anything that incident only fired up the home side.

The Boynesiders hit the ground running in the second half with a deep cross from Michael Kelly being volleyed home at the back post by Gavin Brennan.

Daly then turned provider again when another cross was turned in by former Lilywhite Declan O’Brien.

Dundalk did give themselves some hope when they pulled a goal back just after the hour mark after Pat Hoban headed home substitute Darren Meenan’s cross.

However, almost immediately O’Brien put the result beyond doubt when he met Brennan’s in-swinging free kick with a diving header to make it 4-1.

That meant that by the time Drogheda captain Brennan was sent off for a tackle from behind on Stephen O’Donnell in the 87^th minute, it mattered little to the outcome.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Micheal Schlingermann (Dave Ryan 12); Michael Daly, Alan McNally, Paul Andrews, Shane Grimes; Daire Doyle, Eric Foley; Cathal Brady (Carl Walshe 73), Gary O’Neill, Gavin Brennan; Declan O’Brien (Austin McCann 90 +3). Subs not used: Paul Crowley, Gavan Holohan, Philly Hughes, Ciaran McGuigan.

DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon (John Mountney 79), Chris Shields, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Ruaidhri Higgins (Darren Meenan 56); Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Daryl Horgan, Patrick Hoban, Kurtis Byrne (David McMillan 59). Subs not used: Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Simon Kelly, Gabriel Sava.

Referee: Derek Tomney (Dublin).

Louth derby to be screened live on Setanta Sports

Tonight’s Louth derby between Drogheda United and Dundalk at Hunky Dorys Park is being shown live on Setanta Sports (8pm).

The two local rivals go into this derby match looking for three points to close the gap between them and Rovers to two points. In Dundalk’s case they have third place Sligo in their sights while Drogheda are homing in on fifth placed Shamrock Rovers.

Both sides won in the FAI Ford Cup last weekend and in the previous meeting between them this season at Oriel Park, Dundalk came from two down with 19 minutes to go to earn a draw.

Drogheda are still without skipper Derek Prendergast (ankle) and Eric Foley (muscle) while Gabriel Sava and David Cassidy are both suspended. Dundalk trio Stephen O’Donnell, John Sullivan and Darren Meenan are all suspended while Chris Shields (knee) is doubtful.