MU20: Derry City 2-5 Dundalk FC

Dundalk FC MU20s bounced back in excellent fashion with an impressive 5-2 away win over Derry City at Shared Village.

The visitors made a strong start and went in 3-1 ahead at the break thanks to goals from TJ Molloy, Cian O’Leary and Max Ferguson. Dundalk then continued their momentum early in the second half, adding two more goals through Max Ferguson, from a well-taken free-kick, and Aaron Keogh, who finished well.

Derry did manage to pull a second goal back, with a fine finish from their striker, but Dundalk had already done the damage with an attacking display that saw them hit five goals on the road.

It was an important response from Shane Grimes’ side after the disappointment of the previous week and a positive way to begin the second round of fixtures.

Shane Grimes reaction:

“It was a great win and an obvious bounce back from the week before. We showed good character in the game and to go in 3-1 up at half-time put us in a strong position.

We had a bit of a plan at half-time to go out, manage the game well and try to kill it off, and we managed to get another couple of goals, which was really pleasing.

Scoring five goals is always good, but there are still a lot of aspects of the performance that we know we can improve on. Even though we won well, we know we’re capable of better and there’s plenty for us to work on.

The lads’ form has been at a good level for large parts, but we’re always looking to improve week on week. This was the start of the second round and the message to the players is to keep pushing hard, keep the foot down, and see where that takes us by the end of the phase.