Dundalk FC progress to the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final

Leinster Senior Cup, Group B

Dundalk FC booked their place in the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final for the second successive year after a 4-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers at Roadstone on Friday night. 

Ciarán Kilduff’s side made several changes from the team that beat Drogheda United in the Malone Cup a week earlier, but new lineup showed no signs of weakness as they brushed aside the Rovers U20 outfit. 

The visitors set the tone early on with 15-year-old TJ Molloy-Murray making history in the 14th minute.

The teenager pounced on a loose ball in the box and slotted it into the bottom left corner, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Dundalk’s history.

The Lilywhites doubled their lead almost immediately when Daryl Horgan found the net from close range a minute later to make it 2-0. 

Horgan struck again before the half-hour mark. Ethen Vaughan swung in a cross from the right and the winger headed home his second of the night.

With a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break, Kilduff made a triple substitution and brought on Enda Minogue, Aodh Dervin, and Leo Gaxha to see out the second half. 

The visitors controlled the second 45 minutes more, but they still found time to add to their tally. 

Horgan turned provider in the 54th minute and linked up with Eoin Kenny before setting up Gaxha who had the simplest of finishes.

Dundalk saw out the rest of the game with ease, ensuring a second consecutive Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final appearance.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Todd Bazunu, Barry Kealy, Evan Mearns, Kian Dignam (c), Danny Burke (Jack Greene 69'), Seán McDonald (Zak Reddy HT), Harry Murray (Tadhg Prizeman 84'), Lenix Lynch (Cian Kenna 88'), Goodness Ogbonna, Ajibola Oluwabiyi, Brody Lee (Desmond Armstrong 69').

Subs not used: Maxwell Cooke (GK), Alex Snow. 

DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie (Enda Minogue HT), Ethen Vaughan, Conor O’Keeffe, Mayowa Animasahun (Aodh Dervin HT), Seán Spaight (Seán Keogh 62'), Andy Paraschiv, Luke Mulligan, Eoin Kenny (Harry Groome 62’), Keith Ward, Daryl Horgan (c), TJ Molloy (Leo Gaxha HT).

Subs not used: Muhammad Haris, Vinnie Leonard. 

REFEREE: Neil Doyle.