Kilduff "delighted" for Dundalk FC skipper

A first-ever career hat-trick for veteran winger Daryl Horgan stole the spotlight as Dundalk FC dismantled Treaty United 7-0 in the SSE Airtricity League First Division on Friday night.

The 33-year-old Galway native, long since a legend of the League of Ireland and with nearly 100 career goals to his name, has enjoyed fine spells abroad in the English Championship with Preston North End and Wycombe Wanderers, in the Scottish Premiership with Hibernian, and as a 17-time Republic of Ireland international.

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Yet, despite all those milestones, he had never before struck three times in a single game.

That changed in the 83rd minute at Markets Field when, having already struck twice and supplied two assists, The Lilywhites were awarded a penalty—and there was never the slightest doubt as to who would step forward to take it.

“I’m delighted for him,” said manager Ciaran Kilduff. “I’m sure the only person arguing with him was Keith Ward; he’s on a bit of a run himself of set-piece goals, but he was on a hat-trick. He’s our captain, he’s a talisman for us now as well, and it’s always great when you score a hat-trick.”

Horgan’s sixth, seventh, and eighth league goals of the campaign complement his nine assists, his previous strike also coming from the spot in Dundalk’s last away outing—a crucial 1-0 victory over UCD earlier this month, in which goalkeeper Enda Minogue’s late penalty save sparked what has since become a five-game winning streak for The Lilywhites.

“It’s fine margins, it’s big moments, but we speak about it,” reflected Kilduff. “I actually mentioned to Enda that night before the game that I had a feeling he would save a penalty because he’d made a mistake the week previous against Wexford. He was being hard on himself, but football’s like that.

“You could go a long period without being prolific, and now we’ve scored 17 in the last three. Football changes quickly, and it’s all emotive, and we’re just trying to stay calm. We went on a run there where we drew, drew, lost. If you run into that form again in this moment, you’ll lose the lead we have, so we take it one game at a time, and it seems to be serving us well.”

Meanwhile, after being reported by The Democrat at the start of last week, Dundalk confirmed the departure of long-serving coach Liam Burns, with former crowd favourite Dane Massey stepping in to join Kilduff’s coaching staff.

“Liam has been someone that I got on very well with,” remarked the Dundalk manager. “He’s been a servant for the club for 13 years, he’s been an employee of the club, and he moved on. Dane came in and is someone that I’ve known for an awful long time, and someone who really, really does love this club, and someone who was more than happy to come in at that time.

“But I wish Liam well. He’s been excellent around our group and been a great servant to the club. We welcome Dane, and it’s off to a good start for him as well, so I’m sure I’ll hear about that on the bus ride home,” he smiled.