Bob McKenna scored his fourth hat-trick of the season to shoot Dundalk Youths to the top of the DDSL U18 Super League with a comfortable 3-1 win over Crumlin United at Willie Pearse Park on Sunday morning. McKenna, who scored for the club’s U19 side less than 24 hours earlier, brought his tally for the season between both grades to 22 as he maintained his 100 percent scoring record for the Youths since signing last month. The Skerries native had netted six goals in his first two outings for Alan Browne’s side, and he had two more here by the midway point of the first half, before a second-half strike sealed victory, the hosts grabbing what proved to be a consolation on the hour mark.
Early opener
Dundalk travelled to the capital on a high with three straight league victories behind them, including last weekend’s superb 7-3 win over then clear leaders Bohemians, with McKenna bagging four goals for the second time this term. The young Lilywhites had struggled on the road up until now, with defeats at Malahide United and Shelbourne. But they were quickly into their stride against lowly Crumlin, who had recorded just one win in their opening six games. Dundalk hit the front inside ten minutes when Brian Bird’s cross was well controlled by Daniel Hand and he laid off to McKenna who made no mistake with the finish.
Connolly save
Within two minutes, the Dublin side could have been back on level terms. A long ball over the top put Dundalk’s defence under pressure and Aidan Sheehy committed a foul on the edge of the box, with the resulting free-kick tipped onto the crossbar by Johnny Connolly. And that save proved more crucial on 18 minutes when Dundalk doubled their lead. Conor McDonald’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Seanie Crosbie, with McKenna rising high at the back to net his second. McKenna could have had his hat-trick 90 seconds later but after Stephen Kilcoyne had done well on the left, he saw his cross headed off the bar by the 17-year-old striker.
Hat-trick
On 35 minutes, as Dundalk continued on the front foot, they went close again, this time a corner from Kilcoyne picking out Crosbie who fired just over. Before the break, the visitors had another chance to add to their lead, but after McDonald had slipped in McKenna the ‘keeper produced a good save to tip around the post. However, on 55 minutes, McKenna did secure his hat-trick. McDonald was again the orchestrator, with a superb pass again finding McKenna and this time he finished coolly to the bottom-right corner. Shortly after, Crumlin pulled one back when a Dundalk attack was intercepted, with the hosts pouring forward in numbers and powering an 18-yard strike past Connolly. However, after twice losing leads in Dublin this season, Dundalk this time played out a comfortable win, which sees them sit alongside the Gypsies on 18 points at the summit.
DUNDALK FC: Johnny Connolly, Ben McLaughlin, Brian Bird, Aidan Sheehy, Jack Clancy, Conor McDonald (John McKeown 65), Seanie Crosbie, Stephen Kilcoyne, Michael Gray, Bob McKenna, Daniel Hand.
Goals: B McKenna (10, 18, 55).
Unused Subs: Kurt Murphy, Ryan Duffy.
