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routine victory

Dundalk ease into EA Sports Cup final with comfortable victory over Galway

The reigning league champions ran out 3-0 winners.

Dundalk 3

Galway United 0

Daragh Small reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

JAMIE McGRATH BEGAN the onslaught as reigning league champions Dundalk eased into the final of the EA Sports Cup with victory over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Dundalk were 1-0 up at half-time and two goals from McGrath and Robbie Benson, added to an own goal from Kevin Devaney as Galway bowed out.

Colm Horgan cleared off the line twice in the tenth minute but Dundalk attacker McGrath followed up to finish past new Galway goalkeeper Charlie Burns. Burns redeemed himself when he got down well to save from Benson and Dundalk piled forward.

Paul Sinnott made the crucial intervention to deny John Mountney in the 14th minute but the pressure was incessant. Sean Hoare had his headed goal disallowed in the 16th minute and Galway finally had their first half-chance when Shanahan forced a save from Gabriel Sava.

They had another big opportunity to draw level in the 26th minute when Marc Ludden’s throw was missed by Stephen Folan and Devaney. The next Galway chance came via Rory Hale’s run down the right, his cross was cleared and David Cawley’s follow up went wide.

Having won three of their last four league games Galway began to play with confidence but trailed 1-0 at half-time. But Thomas Stewart and Hoare almost put the game beyond Galway at the start of the second-half, although it was a dubious penalty that eventually put Dundalk 2-0 up.

Ludden seemed to have won the ball fairly off Mountney but referee Ray Matthew pointed to the penalty spot, and Benson slotted the 57th minute goal and 13 minutes from the end Devaney compounded Galway’s misery with an own-goal.

Galway United: Charlie Burns; Colm Horgan, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan, Gavan Holohan, David Cawley, Rory Hale (Alex Byrne 69), Kevin Devaney (Ronan Manning 89); Padraic Cunningham (Eoin McCormack 69).
Dundalk: Gabriel Sava; Seán Gannon, Seán Hoare, Shane Grimes, Niclas Vemmelund; Robbie Benson (Conor Clifford 81), Stephen O’Donnell; Thomas Stewart (Dave McMillan 72), John Mountney (Patrick McEleney 63), Michael Duffy; Jamie McGrath.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Westmeath).

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