(Aggregate 4-0)
Dundalk’s Europa League journey came to an emphatic halt tonight after losing their second-leg tie with Larnaca 4-0 in Cyprus.
It was a disaster for Stephen Kenny’s men, who conceded thrice before the break with Macedonian international Ivan Trickovski on the scoresheet twice.
In temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, the opener came after a spell of prolonged pressure on Gary Rogers’ goal. As the Dundalk defence parted, Trickovski raced onto Apostolos Giannou’s through ball and fired to the bottom corner.
A second arrived on 21 minutes. Sean Hoare, continuing at right back for the third successive match, was caught static under a lofted punt and his marker, Tete, capitalised, darting along the defender’s inside before clipping past Rogers.
Dundalk felt aggrieved just past the half hour, as they sought a route back into the encounter, when Jamie McGrath was caught in the penalty area by Hector Hevel.
But Croatian referee Fran Jovic waved play on and just five minutes later, Dundalk’s anger was compounded when Trickovski added a third from close range, having had his previous effort saved.
Patrick McEleney and Sean Gannon were introduced by Kenny at half-time.
The former had a particular impact as the Lilywhites enjoyed a considerable chunk of the second-half play, creating clear-cut chances for Hoban, who drew a fine stop from Tono Ramirez after heading an earlier effort off target.
Substitute Dane Massey spurned another opening and those missed chances were punished further when Joan Tomas slid Larnaca’s fourth to the net just seconds after being introduced.
Their highest European defeat under Kenny, it rounded off a miserable night for the Louth side, whose attentions will now turn fully to domestic competition.
RECAP: AEK LARNACA 4-0 DUNDALK
AEK Larnaca: Tono Ramirez; Igor Silva, Joan Truyols, Mikel Gonzalez, Thomas Ioannou; Jorge Larena (Nacho Cases 71); Acorán (Joan Tomas 88), Ivan Trickovski, Hector Hevel, Tete (Konstantinos Konstantinou 81); Apostolos Giannou.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Hoare (Dane Massey 63), Brian Gartland, Daniel Cleary (Sean Gannon HT), Dean Jarvis; Chris Shields, Robbie Benson; Dylan Connolly (Patrick McEleney HT), Jamie McGrath, Michael Duffy; Pat Hoban.
Referee: Fran Jovic (Croatia)
