DUNDALK’S proud FAI Cup tradition will feature another chapter this season after they advanced to the final 16 of the knockout competition for the fifth straight year tonight.
Two goals in the first nine minutes and a late third sank the hopes of league newcomers Mervue United, who were valiant in defeat, but ultimately outclassed in the 3-1 result at Terryland Park.
The first hour the game could largely have been deemed a mismatch with Dundalk barely seeming to lift out of third gear as they accounted for a spirited, but nonetheless under strength and inexperienced opposition.
Whether it was a case of taking time to find their feet, Mervue were not going to go down without a fight, and answered back with a second half goal of their own. But their hopes of recovery were eventually dashed when Lilywhites’ Declan O’Brien delivered a third knockout blow with ten minutes left to see his side through to the Cup quarter finals.
Mervue were hampered with the absence of seven players, six through injury and a seventh, captain Eric Browne, who was suspended for the match due to his yellow card accumulation.
United were looking to recover from a 2-0 league loss to Finn Harps up in Baleybofey the week prior, while Dundalk were riding high, following a home 3-0 crushing of Bray Wanderers last Friday, a confidence-boosting result for the side which allowed them to leap over the Seagulls and into eighth place on the Premier League table. They were also better off on the injury front, with just striker Darren Mansaram missing through suspension.
Dundalk got off to the best possible start when in just the third minute striker Ger Rowe put them in front. He was left wide open in front of the goal mouth and had little trouble putting away a cross from Tiarnan Mulvenna.
The news went from bad to worse for Mervue with the Lilywhites’ second goal coming just six minutes later when Shaun Kelly was left with just ‘keeper Eoin Martin to beat and drilled a low ball past him and into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Dundalk continued to play the aggressor role for the next 20 minutes before the match began to level out. Rynal Browne had a half chance for Mervue in the latter part of the half, but could not control a volley, while Rowe had the chance to nab a second right on the cusp of half-time, but put a close-range shot just over the bar.
The steady pace resumed from the opening whistle of the second half. Dundalk had the lead they needed and were playing it as they needed to, as Mervue tried desperately to spark something.
Striker Dave Goldbey had been largely ineffectual in the opening half, but was starting to find a bit of room and looked dangerous when he put a shot just wide of the post from cross by substitute Rory Gaffney. It was the combined efforts from this pair that then suddenly put Mervue back in contention. Goldbey rounding two defenders in front of goal after Gaffney had sent the ball forward and struck it well from close range as Mervue pulled one back.
But the dream recovery died at the boot of winger Declan O’Brien, who slotted the third and decisive point for Dundalk, a justified result for the Premier League outfit who were a class above for much of the contest.
Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Nicky Curran, Mark Ludden, Damian O’Rourke, Martin Conneely, Rynal Browne, Kevin Barrett, Gary Traynor, Dave Goldbey, Kenny Farrell (Kevin Crehan, 55mins), Alex Lee (Rory Gaffney, 42mins) Subs not used: David O’Brien, Mike Tierney, Ryan Griffin, Mixie Harty
Dundalk: Chris Bennion, Michael Coburn (Mark Griffin, 28mins), Liam Burns (Kevin McArdle, 73mins), Simon Kelly, Michael Synott, Shaun Kelly (Michael McGinley, 35mins), Chris Turner, Thomas Heary, Declan O’Brien, Ger Rowe Subs not used: Nathan Murphy, Ryan Coulter
