League Report: Dundalk 3 - 0 Limerick

Dundalk got back to winning ways in the SSE Airtricity League as they swept aside relegation-threatened Limerick 3-0 at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Another sublime goal from Patrick McEleney as well as headed efforts from Brian Gartland and Robbie Benson means the Lilywhites keep a firm hold on second place in the while defeat means Limerick are now just three points above the bottom three and winless in their last nine outings against Dundalk.

Dundalk made three changes from the side that drew in Sligo last week with McEleney returning to the starting eleven after missing the last two matches with a groin problem, while Dylan Connolly and Sean Hoare replaced John Mountney and Dane Massey, with the left-back missing out through injury.

In what was been a turbulent week for Limerick, preparations weren’t helped by the fact their team bus broke down en route to Oriel Park. They made just one alteration from last week’s hammering at the hands of Derry City with Barry Cotter replacing Stephen Kenny, who was dropped to the bench.

The Lilywhites had the first shot in anger in what was a cagey opening to proceedings when David McMillan’s header fell into the path of Benson, who fired high and wide and he was involved again when he flicked his header across goal from Michael Duffy’s corner when it just needed another touch.

McEleney, who was badly missed in Dundalk’s previous two matches, was fouled on the edge of the area by David O’Connor in the 32nd minute and curled the resulting free-kick into the top left-hand corner in almost trademark fashion with Brendan Clarke given little chance in the Limerick goal.

That goal seemed to have sparked Dundalk into life and soon after that goal, Duffy’s free-kick was headed just wide by Niclas Vemmelund, who was playing in an unfamiliar role at left-back, before Duffy’s neat pass was mishit entirely by the normally deadly McMillan before the break.

Dundalk started the second half brightly and Duffy unleashed an effort which sailed just over the bar before the hosts did double their advantage moments later when O’Connor fouled Connolly with Duffy’s resulting in swinging free-kick being met by the head of Brian Gartland to make it 2-0.

Two became three just three minutes later when Duffy’s corner was once again met by the head of Gartland, only this time his header was flicked across goal and met by the head of Benson, before he almost added a fourth when his header, from yet another Duffy corner, was blocked on the line by Tony Whitehead.

Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Sean Hoare, Niclas Vemmelund; Dylan Connolly, Chris Shields, Robbie Benson (Stephen O’Donnell 68), Michael Duffy; Patrick McEleney (John Mountney 83), David McMillan (Jamie McGrath 76).

Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Shane Grimes, Conor Clifford, Steven Kinsella.

Booked: None.

Limerick: Brendan Clarke; Barry Cotter (Stephen Kenny 66), Tony Whitehead, Joe Crowe, David O’Connor; Dean Clarke, Lee Lynch, Shane Duggan, Henry Cameron (Bastien Hery 63); Rodrigo Tosi (John O’Flynn 83), Chiedozie Ogbene.

Subs not used: Freddy Hall, Shane Tracy, Garbhan Coughlan, Killian Brouder.

Booked: O’Connor (53).

Referee: Derek Tomney.

Attendance: 2,083.

ExtraTime.ie Player of the Match: Michael Duffy (Dundalk).