Another four goals from Bob McKenna, two from Stephen Kilcoyne and an unbelievable free-kick from Aidan Sheehy saw Dundalk Youths hammer league leaders Bohemians 7-3 in the DDSL U18 Super League, in a wonderfully-entertaining match at Oriel Park on Sunday morning. After a competitive opening to the game, five goals were scored in an eleven-minute spell, with the young Lilywhites leading 3-2 at the break, Kilcoyne with his first and McKenna with two. Sheehy extended that lead after half-time before McKenna sealed his hat-trick. Bohs quickly pulled one back, only for McKenna and Kilcoyne to add further gloss to the scoreline, the Skerries native making it 18 goals in 11 outings.
Even opening
In an even opening, both sides had chances. The first fell to Dundalk on six minutes when the ball came invitingly to Kilcoyne on the left of the area but he blazed over. Shortly after, Bohemians should have taken the lead. A scramble in the box saw ‘keeper Johnny Connolly push the ball away before his second challenge knocked over a Bohs player, the visitors then shooting wide as the referee signalled a corner and not a spot-kick. Before the quarter-hour mark, in-form striker McKenna did well to create a shooting opportunity but he dragged his shot wide. Bohs continued to be a threat and they went close from a free-kick which found a man in space at the back post, but he hooked his effort off target.
Goal frenzy
What was to follow was 11 minutes of madness as five goals were scored. Dundalk broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when a neat through-ball from Daniel Hand found Kilcoyne on the left of the box and this time he made no mistake as he finished superbly to the far bottom corner. However, they were pegged level within 90 seconds when a Bohs player found space at the back post and shot home. On 24 minutes, the hosts were back in front, as McKenna latched onto the ball on the left of the area and fired clinically to the far bottom corner. Seconds later, it could have been 3-1 as Michael Gray’s superb cross was headed over by McKenna from close range. However, Bohs were level within minutes as a wonderful 25-yard free-kick beat Connolly.
Sheehy shot
Dundalk were back in front for a third time just past the half-hour mark. A corner was blocked on the line by the Bohs defence but it fell to McKenna who, from two-yards, could not miss. Both teams had chances before the break, the best of them falling to Kilcoyne whose chip landed on the roof of the net. Hand then showed a classy touch but his low cross was blocked away, before, from the next attack, McKenna headed towards the top corner but the Bohs No1 collected. On 52 minutes, the young Lilywhites made it 4-2, as Sheehy’s magnificent free-kick flew into the top corner from 30-yards. Shortly after, Sheehy fired a free-kick from similar distance narrowly over, before captain Conor McDonald stung the palms of the visiting ‘keeper as he pushed the ball over.
Four more
On 66 minutes, Dundalk looked to have put the game to bed when McDonald supplied McKenna and, despite a poor first touch, he raced through on goal and slotted under the ‘keeper. Just seconds later, though, Bohs reduced the deficit to two when a cross from the right to the back post was headed in. On 73 minutes, Dundalk were denied a penalty when Kilcoyne was dragged back inside the box, the left-winger getting his shot away but it was blocked. The home side should have killed the game off on 78 when they broke well following a Bohs corner but, after Gray played in Hand, the tall striker was denied well in a one-on-one. Dundalk did, however, seal it moments later when McKenna chipped in for his fourth, before Kilcoyne grabbed his second with a cool finish to complete a memorable win.
DUNDALK FC: Johnny Connolly, Ryan Duffy (Jude Carroll 50), Aidan Sheehy, Jack Clancy, Brian Bird, Michael Gray (Rian Hand 90), Conor McDonald ©, Kurt Murphy (Seanie Crosbie 56), Stephen Kilcoyne, Bob McKenna (John McKeown 83), Daniel Hand (Rowan Quinn 85).
Goals: S Kilcoyne (20, 83), B McKenna (24, 31, 66, 80), A Sheehy (52).
Unused Subs: None.
