Phoenix FC 0 - 4 Dundalk
Credit:
There was no Cup upset in Oriel Park as Dundalk cruised to a 4-0 victory against non-league side Phoenix FC on Friday night.
A first half brace from Pat Hoban, a goal from Kurtis Byrne before half-time and Tiarnan Mulvenna’s strike in the final minute handed the Lilywhites a facile victory.
The Premier Division side, who are fresh off the back of an impressive victory away to champions Sligo Rovers, made just one change from the side victorious in the west on Tuesday night as manager Stephen Kenny chose to bring in Kurtis Byrne in place of Keith Ward.
Dundalk had the better of the opening exchanges as John Mountney had a few decent runs on the right wing and deservedly went in front after just seven minutes. Dundalk worked a throw-in well on the left and Dane Massey crossed perfectly for Pat Hoban who expertly headed past Phoenix goalkeeper Tadgh Murphy.
The Lilywhites continued to press and almost grabbed a second when Kurtis Byrne shot from a tight angle but it was held by Murphy. Darren Meenan was played in on goal by Richie Towell and with just the ‘keeper to beat, he dragged his shot wide of the goal just before the 20 minute mark.
25 minutes in and Dundalk doubled their advantage. Their pressure gave way to a corner kick and Meenan’s cross found Hoban and he nodded home to the net for second of the game.
Phoenix almost pulled one back immediately as they broke at pace through Glen Wade and he found John Brophy and his ambitious lob over Peter Cherrie was heading to the net but the Scottish netminder scrambled across his goal line to prevent calamity.
From then on, it was all Dundalk. The Louth club, were nominated as the away side despite playing at home, lay siege to the Phoenix goal before the break. John Sullivan had two quick fire chances when he found space on the edge of the box but his curling shot crashed off the crossbar and was cleared.
Moments later he struck a first time volley from the edge of the box following Meenan’s corner but it was never hitting the target. They got their third of the evening 5 minutes before the interval when a long ball by Towell was latched onto by Byrne and he made no mistake as he clinically finished to the net when one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
Mountney had an effort go over the bar on the stroke of half-time but his side went in 3-0 up at half-time.
Phoenix had a great chance at the beginning of the half to get a goal as Brophy capitalised on a mix up in the Dundalk defence but his low shot was well saved by Cherrie before Andy Boyle cleared the second chance.
That appeared to give life to Dundalk as they went on to dominate the rest of the match. Meenan had a wonderful effort tipped over the bar by Murphy from just outside the box before substitute Vinny Faherty had a shot blocked from just inside the box. Another substitute Stephen McDonnell fired over from outside the box while Byrne pulled a shot just wide from the right hand side of the area.
Byrne again went close but the former Ross County stars shot was saved before his follow up was shot wide. Sullivan, a trier of the spectacular on the night, forced a good save from Murphy once more as his speculative effort was brilliantly saved by the ‘keeper.
Faherty had a shot blocked before Tiarnan Mulvenna’s header went just wide of the post although Faherty himself almost got a touch to it. Meenan had another great chance to make it four but his shot was well saved by Murphy again.
The nine time FAI Cup winners got their fourth in the 90th minute as some cool build up play found Meenan who crossed for Mulvenna and he found the top right corner.
Mulvenna almost grabbed his second seconds later but his shot was straight at Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the match and Dundalk advanced to the third round on a scoreline of 4-0!
Phoenix FC: Tadgh Murphy; Dean Mason, Ray Kearns, Victor Ekanem, Carl Denison (Brian Kelly 65); Sean Gleeson, Glen Wade (Danny Anelli 61), Gareth Cooney, Niall Conran; John Brophy (Graham Kavanagh 78), Niall Conran.
Subs not used: Dave O’Hara, John Rogers, Ben Dale (GK).
Booked: Ekanem (74).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; John Sullivan, Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell (Stephen McDonnell 46); Stephen O’Donnell; John Mountney (Tiarnan Mulvenna 46), Darren Meenan; Pat Hoban (Vinny Faherty 50), Kurtis Byrne.
Subs not used: Eoghan Osborne, Keith Ward, Sami Osobe, Aaron Shanahan (GK)
Booked: Dane Massey (23).
Referee: Adriano Reale.
Attendance: 650 (estimate)
Extratime.ie man of the match: Kurtis Byrne (Dundalk).
