League Report: Dundalk 4 - 0 Finn Harps

Dundalk turned on the style yet again on Friday night as they made it two wins from two in the SSE Airtricity League after destroying relegation-threatened Finn Harps 4-0 at Oriel Park.

Stephen Kenny will be delighted to have witnessed his side keep their sixth clean sheet in seven matches after an efficient performance which saw Robbie Benson, David McMillan and Patrick McEleney get on the scoresheet before substitute Jamie McGrath added the fourth – their tenth goal in two matches.

The hosts dominated the first half but were unable to break down the Finn Harps rear-guard with Ciaran Gallagher, who had conceded 16 goals in his previous four matches against Dundalk, called into action as early as the second minute when he saved comfortably from Michael Duffy’s half-volley.

Dundalk were again knocking on the door minutes later when Dane Massey’s teasing cross from the left was headed off the line by Harps captain Ciaran Coll, before McEleney saw his effort sail well over the bar after some lovely build up play from last season’s champions.

That was before Duffy sent an excellent cross into the box following some nice interplay with Sean Gannon but the ball evaded everyone including McMillan, who himself had a great chance moments later when he forced a good save from Gallagher after a neat pass from McEleney.

Gallagher was again on hand, this time diving low to his right to save from McEleney’s fizzing effort before Harps had their first attempt on goal when Gary Rogers, who had practically been a spectator for the previous 35 minutes, was at full stretch to palm away Sean Houston’s daisy cutter.

That minor scare seemed to have sparked The Lilywhites into life and McEleney saw his shot from the edge of the area once again saved by Gallagher and the Dundalk playmaker crossed for Thomas Stewart moments later, but his volley was kept out by the Harps netminder.

Dundalk were beginning to turn the screw at this point and McMillan missed a gilt-edged chance on the stroke of half-time when Brian Gartland’s ball over the top was controlled by their top marksman who did well to get away from Killian Cantwell, but he missed the target when it looked easier to score.

Harps defended admirably in the first-half but their resistance was finally beaten six minutes after the restart when Massey was found in space after an exquisite back-heel from McEleney and the left-back’s shot was brilliantly saved by Gallagher but rebounded off the face of Benson and into an empty net.

Ollie Horgan was left incensed just seconds later when Houston and Gannon both went in for a fifty-fifty challenge in the box but referee Ben Connolly waved away the penalty appeals, even though the Dundalk right-back appeared to have clipped the Harps wide man.

As it happens, Dundalk doubled their advantage a few minutes later when McEleney beat Cantwell to a loose ball from Duffy before squaring to McMillan, who coolly rounded the Harps goalkeeper before finishing to score his 12th league goal of the season despite starting just 13 matches this term.

The floodgates were well and truly opened at this stage and it wasn’t too long before goal number three arrived when McEleney, described by the PA announcer at Oriel Park as “the master of sublime”, turned Cantwell inside out before chipping a delightful ball over a despairing Gallagher.

The visitors, now in search of nothing more than a mere consolation goal, had a rare effort on goal when veteran Barry Molloy saw his long-range shot tipped over the bar by Rogers before McMillan almost added a fourth goal at the other end but was thwarted by the frustrated Gallagher.

That fourth goal inevitably did come however when substitute McGrath danced through Ethan Boyle after picking up Duffy’s pass before unleashing a shot which flew past Gallagher as Dundalk began their preparations for next month’s Champions League qualifier in the most exhilarating style.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Michael Duffy, Stephen O’Donnell (Chris Shields 70), Robbie Benson, Thomas Stewart (Jamie McGrath 62); Patrick McEleney (Ciaran Kilduff 73), David McMillan.

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Paddy Barrett, Sean Hoare, John Mountney.

Booked: McEleney (39).

Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Killian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll, Gareth Harkin; Caolan McAleer, Ethan Boyle, Jonny Bonner (Eddie Dsane 60), Sean Houston (Pascal Millien 73); Paddy McCourt (Barry Molloy 65), Danny Morrissey.

Subs not used: Harry Doherty, Gareth Doherty, BJ Banda, Simon McGlynn.

Booked: McAleer (64), McNulty (87).

Referee: Ben Connolly

Attendance: 2,037

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Patrick McEleney (Dundalk)