Dundalk 4 - 1 Kildare County

First ever club goals for Ben Whelehan, Dessie Baker and Robbie Farrell moved Dundalk six points clear, for 24 hours at least, at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table on Thursday night, as the Lilywhites overcame a stuttering start to easily defeat bottom-of-the-table Kildare County 4-1 at Oriel Park. Whelehan’s opener, somewhat against the run of play, midway through the half was soon cancelled out by on-loan striker Ciaran Kilduff, before Dundalk regained the lead before half-time and then added two insurance goals after the interval.

Whelehan’s header was undone by static defending within a matter of moments as Kilduff ran through the defence unchallenged with his shot finding the net via a deflection. The hosts soon overcame that, however, as a wonderful splitting pass by Paul Marney left Baker with just the ‘keeper to beat, and he made no mistake with the finish as he slotted home. The Lilywhites, buoyed by that goal, improved greatly and should have extended their lead before the break. They had to wait until the opening quarter-of-an-hour of the second-half, however, as firstly Farrell tapped in from two-yards, before Baker did likewise following an assist from his strike partner.

For the visit of Kildare, manager John Gill made four changes to the side that surrendered a two-goal lead in Athlone the previous Monday night. Suspended for the hosts was joint-top goalscorer, central midfielder Paul Crowley, who was replaced by the returning Paul Shiels in the centre of the park. Elsewhere, Ian Ryan, at fault for Athlone’s equaliser in the midlands, was dropped in favour of Paul Marney, while Derek Doyle, who was injured during Monday’s clash, was replaced by Davie O’Connor. In attack, Gill pulled his biggest surprise, as Robbie Farrell came in in place of Paul Smyth, who was impressive in recent weeks, to make his first start since the 3-0 win over Longford at Flancare Park back on 28 July.

Kildare started brightly and almost took a shock lead inside the first minute. A defensive lapse by Paul Marney allowed former Dundalk striker Philly Hughes in behind, however, the fallen hero was denied by a good save from ‘keeper Chris Bennion. The hosts soon settled and had a glorious opportunity to hit the front after five minutes. A ball over the top by David Crawley found Dessie Baker in oceans of space. However, the striker couldn’t control and allowed the visiting defence to easily clear. Just shy of the quarter-hour, Dundalk again threatened when a Crawley corner dropped to David Cassidy 25-yards out. However, the midfielder’s goal-bound effort was deflected behind off the head of ex-Lilywhite defender Baba Isaaka.

On 20 minutes, the hosts created their first real clear chance of the evening. Baker found Cassidy with a defence splitting pass, however, he was thwarted by a combination of ‘keeper and defender. The young midfield maestro was to play a huge part in the deadlock breaker just seconds later as Dundalk took the lead from the resulting corner. Crawley’s corner passed everyone and fell to Cassidy on the edge of the area, with the 25-year-old’s cross being belted to the top corner by the head of Ben Whelehan. That advantage lasted just three minutes, however, as Ciaran Kilduff ran unchallenged from midfield and fired a 20-yard shot which deflected over Bennion and into the back of the net.

Past the half-hour, Dundalk tried to respond to that shock and Robbie Farrell should have done better with a header from eight-yards after a good run down the left by Davie O’Connor. And, the Lilywhites were back in front just five minutes after that as Baker grabbed his first ever club goal. A sublime through ball by Paul Marney set the ex-Shamrock Rovers hitman free, and he stayed calm to fire behind the lone netminder. Dundalk began to take over completely and they should have found a third on two occasions within the space of a minute. Firstly, O’Connor’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Cassidy, before the wee midfielder got himself in behind again only to see his header cleared off the line by Charlie Treacy in the visiting goal. The attempted follow-ups were eventually cleared. The home were then denied a legitimate penalty shout, as the referee astonishingly gave Duffy a yellow card for diving despite clearly being found by Isaaka.

Following the resumption, Dundalk started the better and O’Connor went close to finding a two-goal cushion, only to see his shot deflected narrowly wide of the target. And they soon did get that buffer as Farrell finally got his first competitive goal for the club. After a cleared corner found its way back into the box, Duffy’s shot was blocked before Flanagan followed up. His effort was also denied before Farrell finally bundled the ball in from close-range. Dundalk almost made it a fourth just before the hour-mark, however, Baker’s shot somehow stayed out, before the striker did get his second of the night seconds following that move when he had the easiest of tasks to find the net after a good knock-down from Farrell. On 69 minutes, Baker should have had his hat-trick, however, after being put through by sub Tiarnán Mulvenna, he blasted over.

Dundalk: Chris Bennion; John Flanagan (Simon Kelly 70), Paul Marney Ben Whelehan, David Crawley (Shane Grimes 70); Jamie Duffy, David Cassidy, Paul Shiels, Davie O’Connor; Dessie Baker, Robbie Farrell (Tiarnán Mulvenna 64).
Subs not used: Aaron Shanahan (GK), Trevor Vaughan.

Booked: Duffy (42).

Kildare County: Charlie Treacy; Oran Farrell, Glen Walsh, David Vickery, Baba Isaaka; David O’Connell (Eoin Kavanagh 61), Colin Fortune, Barry Slattery, Cathal Brady; Philly Hughes (Trevor Bowers 57), Ciaran Kilduff.
Subs not used: Ger Robinson, Eoin Powderly, Colin Murray (replaced in the starting line-up by David Vickery before the game).

Booked: Isaaka (51), Vickery (78).
 

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Attendance: 1,000 (estimate).