The Commentary Box: It was a terrific display by Dundalk

Getting three points from Treaty United had proven to be an impossible task before last Friday for Dundalk this season.

This all changed in the South West at the weekend, close to the banks of the beautiful River Shannon, when Dundalk crushed their south-western opponents by seven goals to nil.

READ NEXT: Inside Track: Na Fianna reverse group result to win Ross Cup

Nobody would ever have believed that if Dundalk were to win, that it would have been by this margin. To add to a great night for Kieran Kilduff, Cobh Ramblers were held to a 2-2 draw at home against UCD.

In fact, it took a late Barry Coffee goal for the Cork side to get a point at home on their own patch. The results last weekend leave Dundalk eight points clear at the top with just eight games remaining.

Many Dundalk supporters are now saying that Dundalk were all but certain of promotion. I would tend to disagree. With eight games to go, anything can still happen. Dundalk could easily hit a bad patch, which would allow Cobh to close the gap.

The fact that Dundalk must play Cobh away on the final day of the season also adds the caution in me not to get carried away.

I have been covering soccer for far too long to see the runaway leaders of a league to fold and collapse in the dying days of a campaign.

While I still accept that Dundalk are favourites to win the division, I would advise supporters not to get carried away. Only when it's mathematically impossible for Cobh to catch will I accept that Dundalk have won the First Division.

Dundalk were really coming up against their bogey team on Friday night. They threw away leads in the dying minutes of each game.

The sides clashed against each other before Friday. In game one of the season against Treaty  Dundalk were coasting to a comfortable 2-0 win in March with only minutes remaining at Oriel.

The Limerick side came back to get two late goals in injury time. And but for an excellent save by Peter Cherrie, Dundalk could have lost the game. Ciaran Kilduff's side bounced back with five wins on the trot.

Eoin Martin and Lee Devitt got the two all for Treaty at Oriel. Dundalk dominated the Good Friday game at the Markets Field. Daryl Horgan put Dundalk in front in a game they dominated.

Yousef Mahidy got the leveller for Treaty, bringing Dundalk's good run to an end. In the third game between the sides, it once again ended in a draw.

In a tough, dour game, Harry Groome put Dundalk ahead in the dying minutes of the game. It looked as if the Oriel Park side were going to get their first win over Treaty of the season.

But Mark Walshe had the final say when he shot home in injury time to level the game for  Treaty. The result meant that Dundalk had dropped six precious points against the Shannonsiders. Those six points dropped could still come back to haunt Dundalk.

But the three points were never in doubt on Friday night as Dundalk dominated from beginning to end. Conor O'Keeffe once again really impressed, as many others did.

Daryl Horgan was the three-goal hero as he ensured Dundalk scored 17 goals in three games. Everyone of the Dundalk team played well. Enda Minogue took off a couple of good saves early on.

But Dundalk got motoring from the 10th minute, when Aodh Dervin played a great cross in from the right. Daryl Horgan headed to the net. Treaty simply crumbled after that.

It was amazing to see how poor they were. Treaty's one and only real chance to level things up came on 18 minutes. Lee Devitt placed a perfect cross into the heart of the Dundalk box.

Mark Byrne headed over from 9 yards. The game was over as a contest on 20 minutes. Conor O'Keeffe went on a great run down the right.

His cross found Daryl Horgan, who shot home. Treaty had a couple of efforts after that, one of which was saved by Enda Minogue.

Treaty did get in on 28 minutes. Patrick Ferry was through. How Vinny Leonard blocked him, I will never know. It was an amazing tackle. Dundalk got their third goal on the half hour, Gbemi Arubi swung a cross in close to the byline.

The ball took a swerve and went in. It came off the Treaty 'keeper Chambers on the way in. Five minutes later, Dundalk got their fourth goal. Eoin Kenny put in a good cross into the box.

Treaty's Evan O'Connor turned the ball into his own net. Eoin Kenny put Daryl Horgan in just three minutes from the break. Horgan attempted a lob that Chambers was able to save.

Daryl Horgan's brother, Christopher, came on as a full back early in the second half. Daryl won the battle of the brothers. Declan McDaid went close for Dundalk five minutes into the second half.

His effort was saved by the Treaty keeper. Four minutes later, Lee Devitt saw his shot turned round the post by Minogue. Arubi went close for Dundalk on 60  minutes.

His effort was narrowly wide of the post. Dundalk got their fifth goal on 63 minutes. Daryl Horgan's corner found Vinny Leonard. He headed a powerful ball to the net. Dundalk made four substitutions at this point.

Norman Garbett replaced Eoin Kenny. Dean Ebbe replaced Declan McDaid. Rohan Vaughan replaced Gbemi Arubi. Keith Ward replaced Harry Groome. Rohan Vaughan was put in the clear on 76 minutes.

The Treaty keeper was completely stranded. The Dundalk striker finished the ball to the net to make it six-nil. Just after that, Paraschiv replaced Conor O'Keeffe.

Late in the game, Dundalk got goal number seven when Dean Ebbe was fouled in the box. Daryl Horgan took the penalty that gave Dundalk their seventh goal of the night and a comprehensive win.

It was Daryl Horgan's first-ever hat-trick for Dundalk. It was also Dundalk's biggest away win since October 2020 when Dundalk beat Athlone Town in the FAI cup by 11-0 in Lisseywoolen. 

Minogue dealt with whatever he had to deal with. The two full-backs, Conor O'Keeffe and JR Wilson, were so strong at the back. They also caused a lot of damage to Treaty on the flanks.

Vinny Leonard was exceptional at centre half. The fact that he is being chased by so many clubs in the UK and Europe is no surprise.

Mayowa dominated the centre of the defence as well, but once or twice, he seemed a bit unsure of where he was. He was lucky he did not concede a goal. But he is a young player with great potential.

He has been a star for Dundalk all season. He was not booked on Friday. That was good to see, as he has been picking up too many needless yellow cards all season.

Aodh Dervin was excellent in the centre of midfield. He is such a creative midfielder. Everything went through him in the centre. No Treaty players could get past him.

As usual, he came close to scoring on at least three occasions. Harry Groome was also good in the centre of the park. He was able to put the Treaty defence under serious pressure by setting up players.

He came close to scoring in the second half. He is, of course, a proven goal scorer. The goals seemed to have dried up for him of late. But I would be confident that the goals will start flowing for him soon.

Daryl Horgan was outstanding on the left. Very often, he would drift into the striker's position. His two goals from play were simply clinical.

He also took the penalty well for his hat-trick. Eoin Kenny was once more used as an out-and-out winger. He had a good night. He created much instability in the Treaty defence.

His crosses into the box were terrific. Declan McDaid was played more in between Eoin Kenny and Daryl Horgan. I think Declan is more of an out-and-out winger. Gbemi Arubi gets better and better every week.

He scored one goal and came close to getting a second. He also linked up so well with all of the players around him. The substitutes did well when there were four replacements on 64 minutes.

Rohan Vaughan got his fourth goal in three games. He looks the real deal when it comes to being a striker. Norman Garbett could not do any more than what was asked of him.

Dean Ebbe gave the Treaty defence a lot of problems. One of his attempts to try and score led to him being upended in the box. That led to Daryl Horgan's penalty.

Keith Ward steadied the ship as well, with four replacements being brought on. All in all, it was a terrific display by Dundalk.

Unlike most of the season, the team have found their scoring boots. 17 goals in three games is what this team has been looking out for all season.

Suddenly, since the window closed and the second part of the season started, Dundalk have found their scoring boots and they are winning games by significant scores. If they can keep this up, they will win the First Division title.

Ciaran Killduff says he was delighted with the win. "We probably got hurt by Treaty a few times this year. We knew we wanted to put on a good performance last night. We got a significant win and also a lot of players getting goals.

"We scored seven goals and had a clean sheet. What crowned it all was Daryl getting his first hat-trick in his career. But look in the cool light of day, it's only three points, and we must now move on.

"Treaty have caused us massive problems this year. This was why we were so adamant and focused this week. We knew that they were a particular team who we had failed to beat in the three games we met to date.

"They are not without their threats. They had a couple of opportunities themselves in the first half. They have picked up a lot of points this season. They are in the play-off position and will be aiming to challenge for promotion through that route.

"But of course, we are obviously delighted with the scoreline. What was significant, too, was that we finished the game so well. We had that in the Athlone game, where the subs have been adding to their tallies. All in all, we are in a very good place.

"Daryl Horgan's first goal was good. But his second was even better. We started a buildup from the back. Conor O'Keeffe came out of the defence and down the byline. His cross was excellent.

"Daryl's movement was magnificent, and he put the ball away so well. We were delighted with a lot of aspects of our game. We scored goals that were clinical. We probably put them to the sword quite early.

"We spoke at half-time about the fact that it was not often that we were four-nil up at the break. We wanted the lads to keep working hard, as goal difference for the top spot could still play a crucial part in the chase for automatic promotion.

"Gbemi Arubi is playing really well for us. he has also been training very hard. Confidence is important for everybody. Gbemi is in a real rich run of form at the moment. He got his opportunity a couple of months ago by scoring against Cobh.

"He scored in an assist and has carried on that form on since then. He is a proper handful. You would not like to mark him. The competition of Rino, Dyno and Eoin and everybody around him, including Decky and Horgs and with young lads like TJ coming through, there is huge competition in these places.

"The lads know they have to be at their best. But Gbemi in particular is in some form. We are trying to breathe confidence into the young lads in the team.

"I have said a number of times this season that, probably with the fact we have been relegated, the young lads would be able to get their chance in the first team, and that's what's happened. Luke Mulligan has an injury at the moment.

"He will be back.TJ Molloy and Sean Spaight are also players knocking on the door. These lads are getting opportunities and are taking them. Eoin Kenny is still only 19.

"He, like our other young players, are excelling at the moment. All of the young players are getting opportunities. Some are getting it on the international scene. We are all working hard.

"But the bread and butter in the club is winning the Division One title and getting promotion. We all have to be fully focused on that. Even Rohan has come from England on loan and has hit the ground running. He is only 19.

"His brother Ethan has made his transition even less difficult. Ethan has been with us all season. He is wearing a boot at the moment, but should be back soon.

"The management team, with the players, set our stall out early in the season, what we wanted to achieve. We looked there earlier in the week, that in the first game against Shamrock Rovers last season, there are only two players left in the squad.

"From that initial squad. So we have had a massive overhaul of players. Our young players coming through are just so focused trying to get promoted. I am as a manager, along with Ken, Dane, Ronan Murray and Gerry.

"We are all so focused trying to drive this on. But we are not getting carried away. Cobh themselves only have to be within three points of us going into the last game, which is against us.

"We are far away from winning anything yet. But we know we are now in a great position. I would not rather be in anybody else's position. We are where we are, but it's one game at a time.

"We have had no easy games in this Division. I know last night was the first time we beat Treaty in four games. It's not a case of us just turning up. We are turning up and earning the results we pick up.

"Sometimes during the season, we have had to grind out results. We may have looked convincing in our last three games, but we had to go out and earn the points. There have been no easy games.

"We have hit poor patches as well. For example, we went through a period of losing one and drawing two in the league and then being beaten in the FAI Cup. Treaty were probably off form in the past few weeks.

"Look at how Athlone held us in their own ground about seven weeks ago. But we have teams like Finn Harps and UCD who are really coming into form. We have to play them on the final run-in.

"You just do not know what you are going to meet in each of the games we play. They all have quality players, and they are all well set up. The most important game we are playing is Kerry next Friday night.

"Colin Healy has Kerry going well. They are in the quarter-final of the FAI Cup. They won last night. There are no easy games. We are going to see that again next Friday. The First Division is a very demanding one.

"On the injury front, Ethan Vaughan is out of his protective boot. He will be back in two weeks. Luke Mulligan is out of his slight body protection. He returns to training this week.

"The only real long-term injuries are Sean McHale and Leo Gaxha. Everybody else has a full bill of health. Other than the two lads, we will have a full bill of health. We will have selection headaches. But that's good.

"We are waiting for a specialist appointment on Sean McHale. It's just that every week that goes by, it's getting closer and closer to the end of the season.

"He does have an issue an issue with his ankle. He did get a negative scan result. Our best hope is that he can get back fit with a couple of weeks to go. But that remains to be seen.

"On news of rumours of Vinny Leonard possibly being on the move, I have no doubt that there is a big interest and that there are probably offers on the table. How could there not be? We all saw it earlier in the season.

"What we have on our hands here is a special talent. I know teams like Celtic and others were over watching him for weeks. The club do link in with me on matters like this. But I am dealing with the football side of things.

"But my understanding is that Vinny will be here for the foreseeable future. There are probably clubs trying to nail him down for some time in the future. That is probably what is going on.

"But listen, Vinny is enjoying himself with us at the moment. From a footballing point of view, there his nothing imminent about Vinny leaving. But there is a lot of interest in Vinny.

"He is a player for the future. We have a kid on our hands. Even if there are offers from UK clubs with an interest, he can not go there until June of next year. He is not 18 until March.

"The window in the UK will not open until June of next year for Vinny. He is not going to be going anywhere this side of the season. I would imagine that he will be with us for the first half of next season.

"If there are any changes from that, of course, we will have to facilitate that. But look. Vinny is very focused. You could see him celebrating when all the goals were going in against Treaty.

"He is really enjoying his football. Vinny is also going to a World Cup with the Republic of Ireland in November. He has a lot on his plate right now. These things in the background will alleviate themselves."

On a footnote to the Vinny Leonard transfer and away from the manager at the moment, I brought it up a few weeks ago that he would be on the move. At that stage, Norwich City were the frontrunners.

Swansea were also mentioned. Stoke City are also in the hunt for Vinny. Celtic have also emerged in the past two weeks. I am sure there have been offers for the Dundalk dynamo.

But it may be some time that this will all be disclosed. I know that with Celtic's name emerging, they are seen by many as the frontrunners.

I understand that Norwich are still very much in the frame and are seen in footballing circles as the favourites to land Vinny's signature.

Should Vinny end up with Celtic, Dundalk should write it into the transfer clause that the Scottish club come to Ireland and play Dundalk. Imagine if it could be arranged for the Aviva.

It would be a financial bonanza day for Dundalk FC. Vinny should also be going to clubs for a minimum of at least one million euro. I see a 16-year-old from Shamrock Rovers has signed up with Arsenal for a record transfer fee of two million euro.

He has little or no first-team experience. He does not leave for the north London club until January 2027. Why should Vinny not go for that type of figure? And there should be ad on's for his transfer as well.

The going rate for young League of Ireland players now is one million. Of course, the player will get his own signing-on fee as well. Sean Keogh went for an undisclosed fee.

I have no doubt that Dundalk did well out of the deal, but I doubt if it was for a million euro. But I will say I do not know what Sean went for. There are offers for Vinny on the table as well.

I'd hazard a guess and say that the transfer saga will soon be over and that a deal will be worked out. The manager thinks that there may not be anything imminent for Vinny.

But Vinny has yet to do his Leaving Cert, as I said before weeks ago. He could go to Europe at 17. But all indications are that he will be heading to the UK. Thus, it will be the middle of next summer before he can go there.

The manager also referred to other young players at the club, such as Sean Spright, TJ Molloy, Shane Tracey and Luke Murphy as great prospects.

There is no doubt that some of these highly talented players will be heading for greater things than the League of Ireland. Another player I have no doubt who will be going abroad, either to the UK or Europe, is Luke Mulligan.

Luke has been injured for the past few weeks. But he is starting to resume training this week. He has been in the Dundalk first team for most of the season.

He plays at right full-back and is also a proven goal scorer. If he were to move to the UK or abroad, Dundalk can expect and indeed seek the minimum one million euro for Luke.

The manager told me that Sean Keogh seems to be getting on well at Brighton. "He rang me the day after the deal was done. He seems to be enjoying it over there.

"Our assistant manager had sent on a few clips in games that he was playing in. Brighton are only starting their season now. Sean was well into his season over here.

"Hopefully, he is flying fit and enjoying it over there and making an impact. I am not aware of any offers for any of our other players just yet. But if there are, it shows how good a place we really are in.

"I have no doubt that there are some of our other players being looked at. We have a lot of young, talented players in our ranks. If there have been any other offers for any of them, then that's the case. But I genuinely know nothing about it.

"We had our new first team coach on duty in Limerick against Treaty on Friday. Dane  Massey was a big player in the club when I arrived at Oriel. Dane is somebody who is big now and who loves the club and the players.

"Like myself, Dane feels that the club has always been good to us. He has hit it off with my assistant manager, Ken, straight away and also Gerry Spain. It's been a very smooth integration for him coming into the club.

"He is bringing his wealth of experience with him. He knows what it's like to play on big nights for Dundalk. He knows the pressures involved, and he loves the club.

"This is a head start for him straight away. I was delighted with Dane. He is someone I know a long time. He is a great person and is somebody I am looking forward to working with.

"We are a work in progress here at Oriel. A lot of work has gone into getting us to the stage where we are at now. It's been very tough. We have gone with young players. We are developing them well.

"They are excelling so well. Young players can go through losses of form, and now the pressure comes on. We are very happy with our work to date. We are very happy with our points tally.

"Our senior players like Daryl, Aodh Dervin and Peter Cherrie have really driven the dressing room. Keith Ward has been astronomical for us both on and off the pitch. As a whole, it's come together quite well for us so far this season.

"But we know we have a huge amount of work to do here at Oriel to get us back challenging at the top of the Premier Division.

"When you think that last September we were on the verge of bankruptcy last season and that we are now just 8 games away and are on top of the first Division and  8 points clear, you can see the progress that has been made.

"Of course, we are proud of our work to date. Last September, this club was on the verge of closing its doors. But you only get a chance at the end of the season to see how far the club has come. It's all eyes on Kerry for now. But having said that, we are on a good path."

I asked the manager that, seeing as  he is being doing so well, has he had any offers from other clubs looking for him to take over as manager of their clubs.

"When other opportunities come up, there has been a bit. But look, I am very happy here at Oriel. I am very much focused on the job at hand. I am not looking elsewhere.

"If another club did come in and make me a better offer than what I have here at Oriel, that's just part of the territory. I am so proud of the group I have, and to be honest, I just keep my head down and focus on my job here at Oriel.

"I have a great staff and great players, and the club owners are always supporting us. I am very happy for now here at Oriel. I would never think of looking anywhere else for now.

"I am only in the door here and have a lot of unfinished business here at Dundalk left to do. I have no interest in anything else right now.

Senan Mullen, a former Dundalk centre half and who also came up through the Dundalk FC ranks, has moved on a year's loan from Serie A Italian team Torino to Serie B team Manitoba.

Senan was out of contract when he left for Torino. Thus, Dundalk made little or nothing on his move. But they will be entitled to a nice sum of money when he makes his debut for Manitoba.

He never got a chance to make a debut for Torino. Have a great week. Please look after each other. Remember to be careful out there.