By Gavin McLaughlin
Dundalk 2-1 Galway United
Dundalk extended their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League to five points as David McMillan’s brace saw the Lilywhites overcome Galway United 2-1 at Oriel Park.
McMillan put Stephen Kenny’s side ahead with a real goal poacher’s effort in the 69th minute, smashing home after great build up play by Robbie Benson and Daryl Horgan.
And the 27-year-old took his tally to five for the season nine minutes later, showing great composure to lob the ball into an empty net from all of 35-yards after Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn had vacated his penalty area to only half clear a Dundalk attack.
Eric Foley pulled one back for the visitors in the 94th minute but it meant little in the end as Dundalk saw it out to extend their lead at the summit.
Despite controlling the vast majority of the first half, Dundalk couldn’t find a way through in the first-half.
Dundalk winger Daryl Horgan was in direct competition with his younger brother, Colm, who filled the right back post for Galway and it was the younger of the two siblings on show who almost opened the hosts up in the 23rd minute. His searching pass carried over the head of Brian Gartland but Enda Curran couldn’t get any meaningful power into his effort.
Benson then fired a half volley off target before Daryl Horgan’s great reverse pass from deep sought out John Mountney but Conor Winn was quick to spring from his line.
It was Benson who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute but Winn made a fine save to turn the midfielder’s header over the top from close range.
The champions injected real pace into their play in the second half and a fantastic move involving McMillan, Mountney and Ronan Finn in the 49th minute ended with Sean Gannon seeing his attempt creep across the line and wide of Winn’s far post.
Galway responded and Enda Curran delivered from the right but the league’s top scorer, Vinny Faherty, just couldn’t control his header as the ball spun up awkwardly off the artificial surface.
Dundalk took charge after that and Horgan powered the ball over the top from a Mountney cut back before McMillan did likewise two minutes later, blazing over from six-yards.
Stephen Kenny’s side continued to attack in waves and the pressure eventually told in the 69th minute.
Horgan, again, was involved, cutting in from the right to pick out Benson to his left and the former UCD man took a clever touch to leave Killian Cantwell flat footed before delivering a perfect cutback for McMillan to smash home.
His second goal arrived nine minutes later when he showed great technique to return Winn’s clearance with great accuracy and although Foley set up a nervy last couple of seconds with a close range effort, McMillan’s brace proved to be decisive.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson (Georgie Poynton 90); John Mountney, Ronan Finn (Paddy Barrett 82), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Darren Meenan 85).
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Killian Cantwell, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walsh; Gary Shanahan (Kevin Devaney 78), John Sullivan, Alex Byrne (Eric Foley 80), Marc Ludden;; Vinny Faherty, Enda Curran (Ruairi Keating 70).
Referee: Ray Matthews.
