League Report: Dundalk 2 - 0 Galway United

Dundalk fans were treated to a third consecutive win on Monday night as the Lilywhites recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Galway United at Oriel Park.

Galway hadn’t won in any of their previous 15 visits to the Louth venue and at no stage of this match did they look like putting an end to that wretched record as Dane Massey’s header and Patrick McEleney’s third goal in as many games moved Dundalk seven points clear of third-placed Bray Wanderers.

With their upcoming Champions League qualifier against Norwegian double winners Rosenborg in mind, Stephen Kenny made four changes from the side which destroyed Finn Harps just four days earlier while his counterpart Shane Keegan made six alterations from their defeat at home to Bray.

Dundalk almost took the lead as early as the fourth minute when Michael Duffy found David McMillan, whose shot across goal was cleared off the line by Galway captain Colm Horgan – watched by brother Daryl from the stands – before Chris Shields followed up with an effort that was deflected wide.

In addition to the rain, Galway were weathering something of a Lilywhite onslaught in the early stages of this match and their defence was inevitably breached in the 15th minute when the hosts took the lead. Duffy’s corner from the right was met by Massey, who made no mistake with a free header.

Kenny’s side continued to dominate possession in the first half but struggled to create any clear-cut chances following the goal. Robbie Benson’s shot which dragged wide and Sean Hoare’s sliced volley over the bar were their only real attempts, while the Tribesmen offered very little going forward.

Dundalk were still anxious for that elusive second goal to kill the game off however, and Horgan did extremely well to clear from Benson’s cross when the inrushing McMillan surely would’ve tapped into an empty net. Paddy Barrett had earlier headed over from close range from another Duffy corner.

Despite their sheer supremacy, the three-in-a-row champions had yet to really test Conor Winn in the Galway goal but the imposing figure, who once had a brief spell with Dundalk, got down well to save after McMillan had attempted to round the keeper following a wonderful through ball from Shields.

The second goal finally arrived much to the relief of the Oriel Park faithful on 63 minutes when Jamie McGrath beat Alex Byrne to the ball after some atrocious Galway defending before it fell to the in-form McEleney, who finished to score his third goal in as many matches and double the host’s advantage.

Galway finally had their first shot but Conor Melody’s long-range effort sailed well over the bar and never looked like troubling Gary Rogers, who really should have paid the admission fee for this match.

The Lilywhites thought they had a killer third when Benson found the net, however the goal was ruled out for offside before McGrath shot wide from the edge of the area after turning Horgan and that was the last piece of action in a match which further heightened Galway’s relegation worries.

Watch both the goals here via Soccer Republic.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey; Michael Duffy (John Mountney 71), Chris Shields, Robbie Benson, Jamie McGrath (Thomas Stewart 84); Patrick McEleney, David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 69).

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Brian Gartland, Stephen O’Donnell, Conor Clifford.

Booked: None.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Lee Grace, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan (Ronan Murray 71), Alex Byrne, Paul Sinnott, Kevin Devaney; Conor Melody (Aaron Conway 87), Vinny Faherty (Eoin McCormack 87).

Subs not used: James Tierney, Gary Kinneen, David Cawley, Padraic Cunningham.

Booked: Shanahan (36).

Referee: Robert Harvey.

Attendance: 2,000 (estimate).

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Dane Massey (Dundalk).