EA Sports Cup Report: UCC 0 - 5 Dundalk

Dundalk ran out convincing winners of this EA Sports Cup quarter-final defeating non-league UCC at the Mardyke on Monday night.

Goals from Ciaran O’Connor, Jake Kelly, Kurtis Byrne and a brace from Paddy Barrett allowed Dundalk to progress to the semi-final stage of the Cup for the second year in succession.

The SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions showed why they are unbeaten this season after 12 games when they were able to capitalise on the student’s inexperience and this showed throughout the night.

The game was only two minutes old when O’Connor opened the scoring, lobbing UCC goalkeeper Jason O’Mahony from near the sideline after a long ball out of defence.

UCC nearly equalised five minutes later when Jason Abbott’s free kick was headed narrowly wide by Kyle O’Shea. This was to be UCC’s best chance of a goal during the opening half.

Dundalk made 10 changes from the side that defeated Derry City 1-0 last Friday in Oriel Park with Paddy Barrett the only player remaining on the field and the extratime.ie Man of the Match had a brilliant game at the heart of the Dundalk defence.

The lead was doubled on 13 minutes when Kelly fired into the top corner of the net from inside the box after Byrne had seen his initial shot blocked by the UCC defence.

UCC ‘keeper O’Mahony made some quality saves during the opening half to deny Byrne and John Mountney from extending the lead.

The Louth men scored again on 35 minutes with Barrett firing a pile driver from 25 yards into the top corner of the goal after he was given the freedom of the park by the UCC defence.

On the stroke of half time UCC had strong shouts for a penalty when Evan Brown was tackled by Barrett but referee David Keeler ignored the appeals from the stands.

On 55 minutes Barrett repeated the trick, this time from 30 yards, smashing it into the top corner after UCC had backed off him.

The final half hour was played at near pedestrian pace as both sides were happy to stroke it around.

Mountney set up Byrne for Dundalk’s fifth on 80 minutes when he dribbled down the middle of the field before striking low from 25 yards into the bottom corner of the goal.

Abbott had a late chance for UCC to claim a consolation goal but the ball went narrowly wide of the Dundalk goal.

UCC: Jason O’Mahony; Andy Gannon,Cian Hill (c), Sean O’Mahony, Cian Murphy; Sean O’Callaghan, Jason Abbott, Kyle O’Shea (Rufus Holmes 86), Evan Brown (Mark McManus 86), Calvin O’Callaghan (Ian Mylod 70); Brian Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Jeremy Bridgeman (gk), Cathal Lordan, Darragh, Corcoran, Mark Murphy.

Booked: O’Shea (20), O’Mahony (52), C. Murphy (56).

Dundalk: Gabriel Sava; Anton Reilly (Craig Doherty 82), Paddy Barrett (Calvin Murphy 56), Paul Finnegan, Shane Grimes; Georgie Poynton, Garrett Craven (Carlton Ubaezunonu 75); John Mountney, Ciaran O’Connor, Jake Kelly; Kurtis Byrne.
Subs Not Used: Ben Kelly (gk), Alex Barry.

Booked: None.

Referee: David Keeler (Cork).

Attendance: 650 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Paddy Barrett (Dundalk).