Chris Reilly grabbed a hat-trick while Bob McKenna and Glen Trainor also found the net as Dundalk U19s defeated Sligo Rovers 5-3 at Sligo IT on Sunday afternoon, to move clear at the top of the FAI National U19 League Northern Division. The Lilywhites struck the front on 16 minutes and, following a shaky spell, Reilly completed his hat-trick by the hour mark, before Trainor got in on the act. Sligo responded with two of their own, but McKenna got a fifth for the visitors, a late response from the Bit O’ Red coming too late to worry the Louth side.
Penalty
Dundalk, who travelled west on a high following the previous weekend’s impressive win over group favourites Derry City, started brightly and went close on a number of occasions, with efforts from Reilly and McKenna narrowly failing to break the deadlock. However, just past the quarter-hour, the visitors grabbed a deserved lead. Reilly went on a mazy run into the box and was bundled to the ground, with the referee instantly pointing to the spot. The ex-Shelbourne forward dusted himself down and stood up to fire to the net, as he added to his strike against Derry.
Fortunate
The young Lilywhites were fortunate to remain in front, the best chance of an equaliser for Sligo coming just before the break when Robert Sweeney was dispossessed under no pressure, with the home side raiding forward only to miss a gilt-edged opportunity. The second half saw Martin Connolly’s side again begin well, and within ten minutes of the restart they doubled their advantage, when Reilly reacted quickest in the area to find the net. Four minutes later, it was 3-0, as Reilly sealed his hat-trick, the 18-year-old finishing off a superb through-ball from Matt Foley.
Game safe
Shortly after, Dundalk made the game safe when Trainor provided the finishing touch to a fine team move. The Lilywhites, four goals to the good, took their foot off the pedal and paid for doing so as Sligo scored two quick goals to half the deficit. But the visitors then restored their three-goal cushion when McKenna, who like Reilly also netted in the win over the Candystripes, latched onto a pass from strike partner and substitute Conor Macken and slotted in. The scoring was not finished there as Sligo netted a late consolation, but Dundalk had by then the points in the bag as they maintained their 100 percent start to the season.
DUNDALK FC: Craig Hanlon, Glen Trainor, Peter Thomas (Darren Meehan 77), Cian Byrne, Karl Martin, Mark Leavy, Robert Sweeney (Gary Shevlin 70), Matt Foley, Michael Osobe, Bob McKenna, Chris Reilly (Conor Macken 65).
Goals: C Reilly (16 pen, 55, 59), G Trainor (70), B McKenna (77).
