Dundalk 8
Bray Wanderers 1
LOOKING TO END the first series of games unbeaten, Dundalk came into this game knowing a bumper home crowd on Bank Holiday Monday would be expectant that they’d turn on the style. You can’t get more comprehensive than eight goals and the champions put on the performance of the season so far in dismantling Bray.
May’s goal-of-the-month competition was surely won just two minutes in at Oriel Park when Richie Towell scored the most stunning volley, his tenth goal of an already impressive campaign for him. That was just one of four first half goals as Dundalk were as expected in control against the strugglers.
Consecutive heavy defeats against Shamrock Rovers and Galway United didn’t bode well for the Seagulls ahead of their trip to Louth and so it proved. After Towell’s opener, Brian Gartland met a Darren Meenan corner to head home. 20 minutes in, David Cassidy was handed the opportunity to half the deficit when Meenan was judged to have handled Michael Barker’s cross in the area and the ex-Lilywhite duly obliged, sending Rogers the wrong way.
Dundalk weren’t to be without their two goal lead for long. Just two minutes later, another central defender benefitted from a Meenan delivery. This time Andy Boyle powered in the corner for Dundalk’s third.
It was hardly competitive stuff as the Seagulls toiled under constant pressure from the home team. Richie Towell, so often the matchwinner in recent weeks, was superb in midfield. He could have had three before the break. A curling long range effort was just over and then Adam Mitchell recovered well to head a close range shot over the bar.
On the stroke of halftime, Meenan completed a hat-trick of sorts. Another corner from the winger this time was put over the line by Gartland once again. However, what the big centre half knew about it is another matter. In the scramble, Wanderers young ‘keeper Stephen McGuinness picked up a knock and need to be replaced.
The second half offered no respite for Maciej Tarnogrodski’s men. Dundalk were stronger, quicker and fitter. Stephen Kenny paid tribute to his coaching staff in his programme notes and it was evident why.
Twelve minutes in, Ronan Finn slipped in Daryl Horgan for the fifth before Dane Massey became the third defender to benefit from a Darren Meenan corner, directing in a free header on 70 minutes. He was totally unmarked.
Meenan contributed 32 assists last term. He’s well on the way again.
Bray were, frankly, dire and further misery was piled on before the end. Finn scored his first Oriel Park goal after great work from subs Stephen O’Donnell and John Mountney and then Horgan grabbed his second with five minutes to play. On any other night, it would have easily been the games best goal. Towell and Horgan can argue it out among themselves.
This was no contest but what it did act as was an indictator to the rest of the league watching at home. Don’t expect Dundalk to drop points against sides they’d be expected to beat. They’ve already gone one series of games without defeat. Kenny will undoubtedly be targeting the next 11.
DUNDALK: Gary Rogers, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Chris Shields (Stephen O’Donnell, 53), Richie Towell (Kurtis Byrne, 67), Ronan Finn, Darren Meenan, Daryl Horgan, David McMillan (John Mountney, 61).
BRAY WANDERERS: Stephen McGuinness (Brian Kane, 45), Michael Barker, Hugh Douglas, Alan McNally, Adam Mitchell, Peter McGlynn, Ryan McEvoy, Chris Lyons, Gareth McDonagh (Daniel O’Reilly, 46), David Cassidy, Emika Onwubiko (Dave Scully, 79).
Referee: Derek Tomney