Dundalk are the inaugural champions of the Unite the Union Champions Cup following a 6-0 over Linfield in Oriel Park. It was the perfect end for manager Vinny Perth’s to conclude their successful SSE Airtricity League season in what was a highly ent
Dundalk are the inaugural champions of the Unite the Union Champions Cup following a 6-0 over Linfield in Oriel Park.
It was the perfect end for manager Vinny Perth’s to conclude their successful SSE Airtricity League season in what was a highly entertaining affair. Linfield will continue their league campaign this weekend as David Healy’s men will look to retain their Premier Division title come next May.
Dundalk got off to the perfect start after some impressive attacking ply they broke down the left through Michael Duffy. His cross found its way to the back post where Daniel Kelly mishit the initial attacking shot but it broke kindly to Georgie Kelly who fired home from close range to open the scoring. Linfield almost responded immediately with a free-kick from Christopher Casement from twenty-five yards it beat the wall but it was straight at Aaron McCarey who saved comfortably.
Dundalk doubled their lead when Michael Duffy's corner swung into the right space and Gartland was on hand to nod home from close range. Michael Duffy almost added a third but his effort struck the butt of the post and went wide much to the relief of Rohan Ferguson. Dundalk did add a third when Rohan Ferguson could only clear an initial attack to Michael Duffy who put it into the path of Jamie McGrath to strike a brilliant right-foot shot that met the bottom left-hand corner.
Robbie Benson added a fourth midway through the second half after breaking free of the Linfield defence he brilliantly chipped the ball over the onrushing Ferguson to seal the tie for Dundalk. Dundalk continued to press forward and added a fifth when Georige Kelly got his second of the evening when he nodded Daniel Kelly’s cross past Ferguson to further the tally. His replacement Patrick Hoban came off the bench to add a sixth when from a Michael Duffy corner he sprung highest to head it powerfully past Ferguson to conclude the scoring on the night and score his twentieth goal of the season.
Vinny Perth and his charges will leave Oriel going into the offseason happy men with another trophy in the cabinet in Oriel Park as preparations for the 2020 season begin in earnest.
Dundalk: Aaron McCarey, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland (Captain), Chris Shields, Michael Duffy, Jamie McGrath (Lido Lotefa 77), Georgie Kelly (Patrick Hoban 78), Dane Massey, Robbie Benson (John Mountney 68), Daniel Cleary, Daniel Kelly.
Subs: Gary Rogers, Sean Hoare, John Mountney, Dean Jarvis, Andy Boyle.
Linfield: Rohan Ferguson, Joshua Robinson (Charlie Allen 69), Jimmy Callacher, Andrew Waterworth (Matthew Shevlin 77), Kirk Millar (Daniel Reynolds 77), Matthew Clarke, Stephen Fallon, Bastien Hery, Jamie Mulgrew (Captain), Niall Quinn, Christopher Casement.
Subs: Gareth Deane, Ross Larkin, Andrew Mitchell, Adam Carroll, Charlie Allen.
Booked: Daniel Cleary, Georgie Kelly
Sent Off: None
Attendance: 2412
Man of the Match: Chris Shields
