Five-star Dundalk FC demolish Waterford

Dundalk FC claimed their first win of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season in convincing fashion as they defeated bottom side Waterford 5-0 at Oriel Park.

Manager Ciaran Kilduff, facing his predecessor Jon Daly, secured his first Premier Division victory at the sixth attempt thanks to goals from Ronan Teahan, Declan McDaid and Daryl Horgan, before substitute Eoin Kenny added two late strikes.

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The result, however, was overshadowed by a serious injury to Dundalk goalkeeper Conor Kearns, who was stretchered off and taken to hospital by ambulance following an incident midway through the second half that led to an 18-minute stoppage.

Dundalk made an energetic start and almost led inside two minutes. After Stephen McMullan failed to gather Bobby Burns’ delivery into the penalty area, McDaid struck the post after his initial effort had been saved by the Waterford goalkeeper.

Waterford responded soon after when Tommy Lonergan, having slipped inside the box, recovered to force Kearns into a save.

The home side continued to press, with Burns sending an effort over the crossbar from distance before Harry Groome turned away from Luke Heeney on the edge of the area but also fired over.

Dundalk eventually broke the deadlock on the half-hour. Horgan delivered a cross from the right and Teahan rose between two defenders to head home from close range for his first goal for the club.

Horgan went close to extending the lead shortly afterwards but dragged his shot wide, while at the other end Jorgen Voilas found space but failed to test Kearns.

The hosts doubled their advantage three minutes before the interval. After Tyreke Wilson had curled narrowly over, Horgan slipped a pass into McDaid, who produced a composed lob over McMullan.

Horgan, influential throughout, came close to adding a third before the break but found the side netting.

Burns began the second half brightly, keeping the ball in play near the left touchline before delivering a cross that found Danny Mullen, whose header was directed straight at McMullan.

Horgan later forced another comfortable save from the Waterford goalkeeper, while at the other end Kearns produced a fine fingertip stop to deny Conor Carty.

The Dundalk goalkeeper, however, sustained what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the aftermath and required prolonged treatment before being removed from the field on a stretcher.

When play resumed, Dundalk quickly added a third. McMullan initially saved from both Horgan and Teahan, but Horgan reacted quickest to convert from close range.

Substitutes Gbemi Arubi and Kenny combined soon afterwards for Dundalk’s fourth, Kenny drifting between two defenders before finishing low into the corner.

Peter Cherrie, the 42-year-old goalkeeper who replaced the injured Kearns, was called upon to save from Heeney late on.

Dundalk completed the scoring seven minutes into 17 minutes of added time, Kenny applying the final touch after Horgan’s low cross eventually fell to Aodh Dervin, whose effort set up the substitute to score his second of the evening.

Dundalk FC: Conor Kearns (Peter Cherrie 85); Tyreke Wilson, Mayowa Animasahun, Conor O’Keeffe, Bobby Burns; Harry Groome (Aodh Dervin 74), Keith Buckley; Declan McDaid (Eoin Kenny 88), Ronan Teahan (Shane Tracey 90+9), Daryl Horgan; Danny Mullen (Gbemi Arubi 88)

Subs not used: Harvey Warren, Sean Spaight, TJ Molloy, JR Wilson

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Jorgen Voilas (Trae Coyle HT), Cian Barrett (Sam Glenfield HT), Hayden Cann, Ronan Mansfield, Jesse Dempsey; Dean McMenamy (Evan McLaughlin 61), Luke Heeney; Conan Noonan; Conor Carty, Tommy Lonergan (Padraig Amond 61)

Subs not used: Jason Healy (gk), Jordan Houston, Benny Couto, Jordan Faria, Alan Zborowski

Referee: Marc Lynch (Galway)

Attendance: 2,819