DUNDALK ENSURED LIGHTNING didn’t strike twice as they progressed to the second round of the FAI Cup at Oriel Park tonight.
They defeated Cobh Ramblers — their slayers in Monday’s EA Sports Cup semi-final — comprehensively, with Ronan Murray twice and Jamie McGrath on the scoresheet.
Finalists in each of the past three seasons, the victory continues the Lilywhites’ record of having negotiated every first round affair since 2010.
But their performance had an eerie feel about it and while the outcome looked inevitable from the moment Murray put them in front 14 minutes before half-time, it was a lethargic display overall.
Indeed, despite starting brightly, Cobh worked the better early openings and could have taken the lead on two occasions as a result of sloppy play along the home team’s back line. Jaze Kabia and Shane O’Connor both went close.
The breakthrough arrived in Dundalk’s favour, however, when Murray finished to the empty net after Duffy’s incisive ball across the six-yard box.
Leading by that strike at the break, McGrath neatly found the bottom corner six minutes into the second period, showing inside before wrong-footing Adam Mylod with a shot beneath a glut of Cobh defenders.
Stephen Henderson’s underdogs almost halved the deficit midway through when winger Denzil Fernandes stung the palms of Gary Rogers.
The Lilywhites finished the stronger, though, and should have extended the gap on multiple occasions, with Daniel Cleary and Georgie Kelly, among others, unable to convert.
But a third goal would eventually arrive six minutes from time when Murray directed Seán Gannon’s right-wing delivery to the bottom corner as the 10-time winners move into Monday’s draw, avoiding a repeat of their 1983 FAI Cup loss to the Rams.
Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Seán Gannon, Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary, Dean Jarvis; Karolis Chvedukas, Robbie Benson (Dane Massey 58); Jamie McGrath, Ronan Murray, Michael Duffy (Dylan Connolly 68); Georgie Kelly (Sam Byrne 76)
Cobh Ramblers: Adam Mylod; Kevin Taylor, Gordan Walker, James McSweeney, Ian Mylod; Shane O’Connor, Ben O’Riordan (Craig Donnellan 74); Denzil Fernandes, David Hurley (Cian Leonard 61), Stephen Christopher (Stephen Kenny 67); Jaze Kabia
Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin)
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