Dundalk defeated an FAI/FÁS team from Irishtown in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Oriel Park on Friday afternoon. The Lilywhites, who fielded four trialists, won 2-1 thanks to first-half goals from Jason Byrne and Daniel Kearns, who finished off a fine move on the stroke of half-time involving himself and Johnny Breen. The visitors twice hit the woodwork in the second half before eventually pulling one back, but Dundalk held firm to get their pre-season schedule off to a winning start.
‘Great workout’
Commenting after the game, manager Ian Foster said: “The Drogheda game being pulled was a little bit last-minute, but the FAI coaches, fortunately for us, said they’d come down and bring a team from Irishtown, the FÁS lads, and give us a game. It was a great workout for the players. I’d like to thank Tom O’Connor and Gerry Davis for doing that. It was a good session, a good workout for the players and it was nice and competitive.”
DUNDALK FC: Paul Murphy (Peter Cherrie HT); Simon Madden ©, Gareth Whelan, Eoghan Osborne, Nathan Murphy (Stephen Last HT); Daniel Kearns, Dean Bennett (Ryan Brennan HT), Stephen McDonnell, Keith Ward; Jason Byrne (Mark Griffin HT), Johnny Breen.
