FAI Cup Report: Galway United 1 - 4 Dundalk

Dundalk made seven changes from the starting line-up that put paid to St Pat’s title hopes on Monday and still had too much strength for Galway. After a bumpy start, the Lilywhites eased into the quarter-finals of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup with a 4-1 win in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Galway have experience turning over Dundalk in cup competitions. Earlier this month, they caused an upset when the saw off the league leaders on penalties in the EA Sports Cup Semi-Final. It was a lesson learned for Stephen Kenny, in lieu of the U19 players he blooded then, he opted for senior players only, in what was a real show of strength of the squad he has assembled.

There may have been a few eyebrows raised when Galway took the lead with just over ten minutes played. Jake Keegan met with Gary Shanahan’s cross to put the ball past Gabriel Sava. Although if the visiting fans were worried that tinkering with a winning formula would lead to another cup upset, they needn’t have.

Dundalk responded well and had fine opportunities through Kurtis Byrne and Ciarán Kilduff, before Brian Gartland headed home from a Meenan freekick –his second in two games.

The Lilywhites played with much more confidence after the equaliser and before long they had a second: A clever flick from Kilduff released Richie Towell who made no mistake in beating Galway custodian Ger Hanley to put Dundalk in front on the 35^th minute.

Paddy Barrett became the second centre back to score from Meenan assist when he headed home a corner on the cusp of the half time to make it three.

The game looked dead and buried at the interval, although Galway did have an opportunity to resurrect the competitivity of the tie not long after the restart. Enda Curran’s spinning effort from the edge of the box seemed to hit the inside of the upright before spiralling out for a goal kick.

Thereafter, Galway gave an honest effort but lacked the extra gear Dundalk could call on as the visitors turned the screw. The Town saw two efforts of their own denied by the post, through Towell and Ronan Finn, before Sean Gannon blasted home to make it four with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

A second romping 4-1 win in a week for Dundalk sees them safely into the quarter-finals. Another August cup upset against the Lilywhties was beyond the Tribesmen but they can look forward to an EA Sports League Cup Final date against St Patricks Athletic.

Galway United: Ger Hanle, Colm Horgan, Alex Byrne (Aran McConnell 49), Sam Oji, Conor Rafferty, Gary Shanahan, Paul Sinnott, (David O’Leary (Jason Molloy 86), Jake Keegan, Conor Melody (Antaine O’Laoi 78), Enda Curran.

Subs not used: Conor Winn, Conor Barry, Maurice Nugent, Ian Collins.

Booked: Shanahan (53)

Dundalk FC: Gabriel Sava, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland,Shane Grimes, Chris Shields, Richie Towell (Sean Maguire 84), John Mountney, Kurtis Byrne (Ronan Finn 70), Darren Meenan, Ciaran Kilduff (David McMillan 86)

Subs not used: Gary Rogers, Stephen O’Donnell, Daryl Horgan, Dane Massey.

Booked: Grimes (65)

Referee: Rob Rogers

Attendance: 761

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Darren Meenan (Dundalk)