Dundalk FC cruise to opening victory against Malahide

Ciaran Kilduff’s reign as Dundalk FC manager got off to a flyer after The Lilywhites recorded an easy 4-0 win over Malahide United in the PTSB Leinster Senior Cup.

First-half goals from Daryl Horgan and Dean Ebbe put Dundalk in control at Oriel Park, while Aodh Dervin and Aidan Russell completed the rout in the second period.

The Lilywhites had their first attempt on eight minutes, when 17-year-old Andy Paraschiv – a new signing from Glebe North – had a header easily saved by Brian Kane.

Two minutes later, the first goal of the Ciaran Kilduff era arrived through new skipper Horgan, who after a quick attack got himself away from full-back James Hendricken before delightfully lifting the ball over the advancing Malahide goalkeeper Kane.

Dundalk had chances to double their lead, with Mayowa Animasahun having a header comfortably kept out by Kane after the ball had been hooked into the box by Leo Gaxha.

Right-back Conor O’Keeffe played vice-captain Dervin down the right, and his cross was turned over at close range by the inrushing Eoin Kenny, playing in a ‘number’ 10 role.

A lovely exchange between Gaxha and Ebbe in the danger area would have resulted in Kenny making it 2-0 – only for what was an excellent last-ditch tackle by Gavin Murphy.

Dundalk did make it 2-0 on 38 minutes, however, when some excellent hold-up play from Kenny allowed Gaxha to then play it in for striker Ebbe to finish from close range.

Indeed, it could have been three for Kilduff’s side before the half-time break, with Gaxha’s cross from the right finding Ebbe, who could only turn wide from close in.

Early in the second half, Kenny’s angled attempt was off target, but The Lilywhites wouldn’t have to wait too long to make the game safe and score their third of the night.

It came on 52 minutes when Kenny capitalised from some slack Malahide defending before assisting for Dervin, who slotted under Kane to score his first-ever Dundalk goal.

In what was a comfortable first outing in the dugout for Kilduff, his side looked to add further gloss to the scoreline, however Kenny’s daisy-cutter wasn’t troubling Kane.

The impressive Gaxha, one of several debutants, curled an effort from distance, but was denied by Kane, while Horgan had a similar attempt fly off target not long afterwards.

Malahide midfielder Shane Day’s shot from distance on 66 minutes, which flew miles off target, was the Leinster Senior League side’s only effort throughout their visit to Oriel.

A second-half substitute, youngster Muhammad Haris was twice denied by Kane a goal on his senior debut, while Malahide defender Cormac Moussally also cleared off the line.

In the 90th minute, Dundalk were awarded a penalty after Murphy had committed an offence inside the area, and although Russell’s spot-kick was saved by the busy Kane, the Dominican Republic U20 international scored from the rebound to make it 4-0.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun, Sean McHale (Vinnie Leonard 18), Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin, Andy Paraschiv (Harry Groome HT); Leo Gaxha, Eoin Kenny (Muhammad Haris 65), Daryl Horgan (Aidan Russell 77); Dean Ebbe (Gbemi Arubi HT)

Subs not used: Samuel Safaei (gk), Sean Spaight

Malahide United: Brian Kane; Dylan Meade, Gavin Murphy, James Farrell, James Hendricken (Cormac Moussally HT); Robbie Byrne (Darragh Vallely 82), Jordan Briggs (Cormac Herlihy 85), Shane Day, Nathan Reilly; Karl Sheppard; Alan O’Shaughnessy

Subs not used: Charlie McGrath (gk), Eoghan Leahy, Jack Sherry, David Farrell

Referee: David Dunne (Dublin)