Bolton eyeing moves for Dundalk pair Horgan and Towell

Richie Towell with SSE Airtricity’s Leanne Sheil after being named Player of the Month for April last month

English Championship side Bolton Wanderers are amongst the clubs keeping an eye on Dundalk pair Richie Towell and Daryl Horgan at present.

It is understood that manager Neil Lennon watched the midfield pair last week but according to reports it is unclear how deep the Armagh man’s interest is in bringing them to the Macron Stadium.

While Stephen Kenny would not like losing any player, it would be hard for either to resist the temptation of linking up with a squad that includes well known names such as Emile Heskey, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Jay Spearing and Adam Bogdan.

Towell, who was heavily linked with a move across the water at the end of last season, has been in scintillating form so far this year with 12 goals to date from midfield, including 10 in 14 league appearances.

Horgan has also been in stunning form of late, with six goals so far this season from the left wing, including five last month alone.

Motherwell, who last weekend avoided relegation from the Scottish Premier League with a play-off victory over Rangers, are also believed to be keeping an eye on Towell with manager Ian Baraclough familiar with the former Celtic and Hibernian man from his time managing Sligo Rovers. Motherwell have also been linked to former Lilywhites midfielder Greg Bolger, now of St Patrick’s Athletic.

Dundalk lay down marker with victory over champions

 

Dundalk laid down a marker for the season as they crushed title holders 4-1 in Richmond Park last night.

Stephen Kenny’s side had fallen behind in the first half with Chris Forrester firing to an empty net after Peter Cherrie was caught out of goal.

Dundalk were back on level terms five minutes after the restart, however, when John Mountney slammed a free-kick to the bottom left hand corner.

Daryl Horgan then put his side ahead with a stunning long range shot to the top right-hand corner that gave Brendan Clarke no chance.

The game then swung dramatically in Dundalk’s favour when Greg Bolger was dismissed with a quarter of an hour to go after lunging in on Andy Boyle.

The points were then sealed late on when David McMillan curled a shot to the bottom corner before Sean Gannon put the icing on the cake in stoppage time with a superb finish across the face of goal to the far corner after getting on the end of Horgan’s cross.

Next up for Dundalk is the visit of Derry City to Oriel Park on Monday night.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Kenny Browne, Derek Foran, Ian Bermingham; Conan Byrne (Sean Hoare, 77), Killian Brennan, Greg Bolger, Mark Quigley (Keith Fahey, 63), Christopher Forrester (Daryl Kavanagh, 73); Christy Fagan. Subs not used: Patrick Jennings (GK), Lee Lynch, James Chambers, Conor McCormack.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; John Mountney (Darren Meenan, 79), Chris Shields, Stephen O’Donnell (Ruaidhri Higgins, 90+3), Richard Towell, Daryl Horgan; Patrick Hoban (David McMillan, 75).  Subs not used: Kurtis Byrne, Mark Griffin, Mark Rossiter, Gabriel Sava (GK).

Referee: Pauric Sutton (Clare)

Attendance: 1,351