Youthful Dundalk too strong for Shelbourne in LSC quarter-final

A youthful Dundalk FC side advanced to the semi-finals of the PTSB Leinster Senior Cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Shelbourne at Oriel Park on Tuesday night.

The holders made the ideal start, moving ahead inside the opening minute. TJ Molloy delivered from the right and 16-year-old Tunde Anunlopo – a former Shelbourne academy player – finished at close range, the ball going in off the post.

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Dundalk pressed for a second before the interval. Aodh Dervin slipped Molloy through, but his dipping effort was safely gathered by Shelbourne goalkeeper Conor Walsh.

The visitors’ best opportunity arrived on 17 minutes when Cillian Ryan rounded Peter Cherrie, only to shoot into the side-netting when a goal looked certain.

At the other end, Shane Tracey’s corner was met by Ethan Hall, whose close-range header drifted just wide, before Anunlopo again threatened, escaping Alex Kendellan and forcing Walsh into a sharp save.

The pressure told on 39 minutes when Aaron Keogh’s corner from the left was turned home by Hall to double Dundalk’s advantage.

Sean Spaight nearly added a third before the break, his powerful effort pushed around the post by Walsh, who was again busy early in the second half, denying substitute Max Ferguson as rain swept across Oriel Park.

Molloy later tested Walsh from a tight angle, while Cherrie, at the opposite end, produced an excellent double save to deny Joey Wuna and then James Bailey.

Dundalk responded positively to that scare and effectively settled the contest on 56 minutes. Shay Casey, turning sharply outside the area, finished confidently with his left foot to make it 3-0.

There was a warm reception with 15 minutes remaining as Leo Gaxha returned from an ACL injury, though the moment was tempered by Molloy being stretchered off following a heavy collision with George Mosneagu. Gaxha nearly marked his comeback with a header from Keogh’s cross, but Walsh intervened again.

Ferguson had two late opportunities to extend Dundalk’s lead, and while Sean Moore pulled one back for Shelbourne in the 89th minute, the hosts were never troubled. Dundalk, composed and assured throughout, eased into the last four of the competition.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Luke Mulligan (Rhys O’Hare HT), Ethan Hall, Shay Casey, Sean Spaight; Aodh Dervin, Harry Groome (Caelan O’Brien HT); Aaron Keogh, Shane Tracey (Caimin Murphy 59), Tunde Anunlopo (Max Ferguson HT); TJ Molloy (Leo Gaxha 75)

Subs not used: Shayne O’Byrne (gk), Nnamdi Nnaji

Shelbourne: Conor Walsh; Alex Kendellan, Mario Omozee, James Roche, Sam Kierans (Fionn Colwell 34); Alex Flynn, Ellis Chapman (Sean Moore 60); Cillian Ryan (Odhran O’Connell 89), James Bailey, Joey Wuna; Chris Idah (George Mosneagu 60)

Subs not used: Finn Moylan (gk), Michael Redmond

Referee: Daryl Carolan (Louth)