Dundalk FC 3-1 St Mochta's: Report

Dundalk booked their place in the second round of the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over St Mochta’s at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Two first-half goals from Shane Tracey and Trevor Clarke had the Lilywhites firmly in control at the interval, before Harry Groome added a third midway through the second half. St Mochta’s ensured a nervy finish when Dean Moran pulled a goal back late on, but Ciarán Kilduff’s side stood firm to progress.

Dundalk made a bright start and dominated possession throughout the opening stages, forcing a series of corners and keeping the visitors penned inside their own half.

Leo Gaxha tested Adam Hayden in the ninth minute as the hosts looked to make their early pressure count, and the breakthrough duly arrived six minutes later. Aodh Dervin delivered an excellent pass into the path of Shane Tracey, who finished confidently to put Dundalk ahead.

St Mochta’s almost responded immediately when a loose clearance from Peter Cherrie fell kindly for Tyler Doherty, but the striker’s effort was diverted behind for a corner.

Harry Groome fired straight at Hayden in the 24th minute, while Trevor Clarke went close shortly afterwards as Dundalk continued to create the better opportunities.

The Lilywhites doubled their advantage in the 37th minute. Gaxha burst forward and delivered a perfectly weighted pass into Clarke’s path, and the midfielder made no mistake with a composed finish for his first goal in Dundalk colours.

Groome was denied again by Hayden before the break, while Cherrie produced a solid stop at the other end to keep out Doherty as Dundalk carried a deserved 2-0 lead into half-time.

Kilduff’s side began the second half with the same intensity and were rewarded with a third goal after 65 minutes. Once again, Gaxha was heavily involved, finding Tracey, who quickly fed Groome. The midfielder calmly applied the finish to extend Dundalk’s advantage.

The visitors refused to fold and continued to battle. Cherrie produced an excellent save from Jordan Buckley in the 83rd minute, but from the resulting corner, Billy Gilmore’s delivery was headed home by Dean Moran to reduce the deficit.

St Mochta’s pushed forward in search of another goal during stoppage time, with Moran going closest when he failed to convert from Buckley’s cross. At the other end, Andy Keogh was unable to find the target from a free-kick as Dundalk safely negotiated the closing stages to secure their place in the next round of the competition.

Dundalk FC: Peter Cherrie; Luke Mulligan (Bobby Burns 63), Mayowa Animasahun (Egor Vassenin 63), Sean Spaight, Tyreke Wilson; Shane Tracey, Aodh Dervin, Trevor Clarke (Aaron Keogh 71), Harry Groome; Declan McDaid, Leo Gaxha (Ronan Teahan 88).

St Mochta's: Adam Hayden; Samuel McGowan, Craig Giles (Chris Lotefa 84), Ciaran Grogan, Tyler Doherty (Jordan Buckley 56), Michael Scott, Jimmy McHugh (Daragh Owens 71), Billy Gilmore, Aaron Robinson (Dean Moran 70), Calvin Rogers.

Referee: Alan Patchell.