Dundalk exit FAI Cup after losing to Galway United
Galway United 4-0 Dundalk
Dundalk FC were thrashed 4-0 by Galway United as they exited the Sports Direct FAI Cup at the quarter-final stage to First Division opposition for the second year running.
Stephen Walsh, Ed McCarthy, Maurice Nugent and David Hurley all got themselves on the scoresheet for Galway, compounding an utterly atrocious display from Dundalk.
A 3-1 defeat to Derry City two weeks beforehand was described by Stephen O’Donnell as the best of his almost two-year tenure, and the head coach kept to his word by naming the same starting XI for what was Dundalk’s 10th FAI Cup semi of the last 11 seasons.
Things actually looked good for Dundalk early on as they created the tie’s first chance on four minutes; Daryl Horgan having a first-time effort well kept out by Brendan Clarke.
Then began the first-half massacre, which started on eight minutes with Walsh scoring a diving header from a Hurley set-piece delivery – that free-kick awarded as a consequence of Darragh Leahy’s needless foul on Galway forward Wassim Aouachria.
Dundalk skipper Patrick Hoban had a low effort deflected over by Vincent Borden, while at the opposite end, Nugent had a goal ruled out for what was presumably a foul.
Galway’s second did arrive in the 20th minute, with Hurley’s cross from the right being headed home at the far post by McCarthy, moments after Aouachria was denied what looked like a stonewall penalty after he was clearly pulled down inside the area by Leahy.
It would have been three, only for Dundalk goalkeeper Nathan Shepperd pulling off a decent save to deny Borden, who was set up by Aouachria’s header across goal.
Indeed, Galway did get their third on the half-hour mark, with defender Nugent capitalising on Dundalk’s failure to deal with the outstanding Hurley’s right-field corner.
That concession prompted Dundalk head coach O’Donnell to make a triple-substitution, as Robbie Benson, Greg Sloggett and Robbie McCourt were all introduced.
The latter was turned inside-out by the menacing Aodh Dervin, who was pulled down inside the box, with referee David Dunne given little option but to point to the spot.
Up stepped Hurley, capping off a virtuoso first-half display by making absolutely no mistake from 12 yards to put the First Division leaders 4-0 ahead inside the 39th minute, with cries of ‘we want five’ now ringing out from all areas of Eamonn Deacy Park.
The Tribesmen did have chances for a fifth in the second period, the first of which saw Rob Slevin have a shot saved by Shepperd, not long after Borden had a goal chalked off.
Hayden Muller was caught out by Dervin, who played in Francely Lomboto, whose shot went under Shepperd, but in fairness to Muller, he chased back and cleared off the line.
Horgan’s effort, which curled miles off the intended target, was the best Dundalk could conjure up in the second half of what was a truly miserable night for The Lilywhites.
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Conor McCormack, Maurice Nugent, Killian Brouder, Rob Slevin; Aodh Dervin (Oisin O’Reilly 89), Vincent Borden, David Hurley, Ed McCarthy (Conor O’Keeffe 89); Wassim Aouachria (Francely Lomboto 70), Stephen Walsh (Rob Manley 90+2)
Subs not used: Alex Rutter (gk), Regan Donelon, David Tarmey, Evan O’Connor, Darren Clarke
Dundalk FC: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Darren Brownlie (Cameron Elliott 57), Darragh Leahy (Greg Sloggett 34), Hayden Muller; Johannes Yli-Kokko (Robbie Benson 34), Connor Malley (Robbie McCourt 34); Daniel Kelly, Daryl Horgan, Sam Durrant (Ryan O’Kane 69); Patrick Hoban
Subs not used: Peter Cherrie (gk), John Martin, Paul Doyle, John Mountney
Referee: David Dunne (Dublin)
