A hat-trick in the first 12 minutes from Johnny Breen saw Dundalk quickly put their friendly against Banbridge Town to bed as they ran out comfortable 7-0 winners at Crystal Park on Tuesday evening, trialist Darragh Raynor, Mark Griffin (2) and Keith Ward all adding goals in the second half.
Hat-trick
Two trialists were named in the starting lineup for Dundalk, David Cawley (ex-Ipswich Town) and Raynor (ex-Nottingham Forest). Matt Foley, who recently signed for the Reserves, took his place on the bench. It took the visitors just 29 seconds to hit the front as Breen got in behind and finished coolly to the bottom corner. It was 2-0 three minutes later as Ward played in Breen on the right and he fired a superb rising shot to the top corner. He could have had his hat-trick moments later but after combining with Jason Byrne, the return pass was cut out in the box. Breen did, however, get a third on 12 minutes as he chased down a long ball over the top and let it bounce before powering a brilliant effort to the roof of the net. At the other end, Banbridge fired a 20-yard free-kick over the bar.
Cherrie stop
On 18 minutes, Breen flicked the ball into the path of Byrne whose first-time effort was decent and narrowly off-target. Nine minutes later, after a quiet spell, Peter Cherrie was called into action as he produced a magnificent save, diving full length to push away a shot bound for the top corner. Past the half-hour mark, Breen threatened again as, after a free-kick was initially cleared, the ball came out to the 20-year-old and his first-time dipping shot was brilliantly pushed over by the ‘keeper. Byrne then got on the end of a ball into the box but his cross was cut out by the home No1 as Breen threatened to pounce, before Byrne, after combining with Philip Duffy on the right, tried to pick out the run of Cawley but there just too much pace on the pass. On 35 minutes, Byrne was again unlucky, this time with a 35-yard shot that came back off the underside of the crossbar and away to safety.
Byrne keen
Shortly after, a Greg Bolger free-kick was only partially cleared, into the path of Ward whose low 30-yard effort was well held by the ‘keeper. Byrne then turned well but his effort from range went well over. The experienced striker looked keen to get in on the scoring act and he almost did so four minutes before the break but his powerful low shot went behind off a combination of the ‘keeper and post. From Bolger’s corner, Ross Gaynor headed wide. At the break, Ian Foster made four changes as Cherrie, Breen, Cian Byrne and his namesake Jason were replaced by Paul Murphy, Mark Quigley, Griffin and Matt Foley. Bolger joined captain Stephen Maher at the centre of defence, with Foley going in alongside Cawley in midfield. And on 48 minutes Griffin almost extended the lead but his shot went narrowly wide. Four minutes later, Ward got down the right and crossed for Quigley who stepped back before shooting wide with the goal at his mercy.
Three strikes
Seconds later, it should have been 3-1 as Banbridge got in after a mistake in defence but substitute ‘keeper Murphy pulled off a great save, low down, to deny the striker. Quigley then shot over from distance, before his low cross was attacked by Griffin who narrowly failed to connect in the six-yard box. Dundalk did make it 4-0 on 59 minutes as Raynor picked up possession on the left and raced through on goal, remaining calm to finish off the inside of the far upright. Ward then flicked a Gaynor cross wide as the Lilywhites looked to add to their tally. It was 5-0 on 67 minutes as Raynor’s delivery was headed home by Griffin, and he almost grabbed another seconds later but his shot came back off the crossbar. Raynor was denied his second on 73 minutes by a good save from the home side’s substitute ‘keeper. On 77 minutes, Quigley skipped past two defenders and his dipping shot was pushed away, with Raynor unable to finish the rebound. However, Ward and Griffin added further strikes late on to put Dundalk in seventh heaven.
DUNDALK FC: Peter Cherrie (Paul Murphy HT); Philip Duffy, Stephen Maher ©, Cian Byrne (Matt Foley HT), Ross Gaynor; Keith Ward, Greg Bolger, David Cawley, Darragh Raynor; Jason Byrne (Mark Quigley HT), Johnny Breen (Mark Griffin HT).
Goals: J Breen (1, 4, 12), D Raynor (59), M Griffin (67, 89), K Ward (84).
Booked: None.
Unused Subs: None.
