League Report: Dundalk 5 - 0 Derry City

Dundalk recovered from their defeat at the hands of St. Pats last Friday night in the best possible fashion, inflicting a merciless hammering on a hapless Derry side at Oriel Park on Monday night.

The home side enjoyed almost total dominance throughout the first half, taking the lead after only 17 seconds when Pat Hoban capitalised on a mistake by Shay Dunlop and slipped the ball to Darren Meenan who finished from close range.

The pace for most of the half was pedestrian to say the least, but Dundalk always looked dangerous going forward and could have extended their lead on a number of occasions before, on 34 minutes, Kurtis Byrne made it 2-0 after some great work by Dane Massey down the left flank, setting it up for Byrne who finished well past Gallagher.

Barely five minutes later, Dundalk put the result beyond all doubt; Massey curled his free kick into the corner of Gallagher’s net from the edge of the box, a good strike by Massey but the Candystripes ‘keeper will surely feel he could have done better.

Dundalk could have made it 4-0 inside the first minute of the second half but for Ciaran Gallagher, who saved excellently from a Pat Hoban thunderbolt. The next chance fell to Darren Meenan; after Horgan did well to pick him out, he failed to connect properly from three yards.

On 53 minutes, the fourth goal inevitably arrived. Pat Hoban showed great feet, turning and firing a low shot past Gallagher from 20 yards. Moments later it was 5-0, Brian Gartland rose highest to head home Darren Meenan’s corner for his tenth goal of the season.

The home side continued to dominate possession but didn’t manage to carve out another chance until on 75 minutes; Darren Meenan’s shot was well saved by Gallagher in the Derry goal.

Sean Gannon had a fantastic chance to make it 6-0 but he inexplicably opted to attempt a pass when he was clean through on goal with only Gallagher to beat.

5-0 was how it finished at Oriel Park, Dundalk getting their title challenge back on track and sending Peter Hutton’s men back across the border empty handed.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle (Mark Rossiter 54), Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Darren Meenan, Richie Towell, Chris Shields, Daryl Horgan (Donal McDermott 58); Kurtis Byrne, Pat Hoban (David McMillan 77).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava (gk), John Mountney, Ruaidhri Higgins, Mark Griffin.

Booked: Hoban (75).

Derry City: Ciaran Gallagher; Shaun Kelly, Barry Molloy, Shane McEleney, Sean Houston; Barry McNamee (Patrick McEleney 70), Joshua Tracey, Mark Timlin, Ryan Curran; Shay Dunlop (Stephen Dooley 65), Nathan Boyle.
Subs not used: Ger Doherty (gk), Aaron Barry, Ryan McBride, Philip Lowry.

Booked:  S McEleney (38), S Kelly (88).

Referee: Tomas Connolly

Attendance: 2,171

Extratime.ie Man of the Match:  Daryl Horgan (Dundalk)