Longford Town 0
Dundalk 4
RONAN FINN WAS in fabulous goalscoring form as SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions Dundalk cruised to victory over Longford Town at the City Calling Stadium.
The Lilywhites midfielder claimed a hat-trick while team-mate Brian Gartland was also on target in the 4-0 win as they returned to the top of the table tonight.
Referee Graham Kelly awarded the visitors a penalty on 10 minutes after Noel Haverty brought down Sean Gannon in the box and Finn got them on their way with a cool finish past Paul Skinner.
That advantage was doubled 14 minutes later when Gartland rose highest to meet Darren Meenan’s corner with his head.
Longford created little in the way of clear-cut chances but kept Dundalk at bay for the best part of an hour before Finn struck twice more before the final whistle.
David McMillan gave the former Shamrock Rovers and UCD man the easiest of tap-ins on 75 minutes, then he followed up Daryl Horgan’s blocked effort to complete his hat-trick in the dying moments of the game.
LONGFORD TOWN: Paul Skinner, Daniel O’Reilly, Noel Haverty, Kevin O’Connor (c), Pat Flynn, Kaleem Simon, Peter McGlynn (Karl Chambers 81), Mark Hughes, David O’Sullivan (Don Cowan 70), Josh O’Hanlon, Philip Gannon (John McKeown 76).
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Darren Meenan, Ronan Finn, Stephen O’Donnell (c) (Paddy Barrett 79), Daryl Horgan, Ciaran Kilduff (John Mountney 70), David McMillan (Ciaran O’Connor 82).
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!