MU20s: Dundalk FC 3-1 Sligo Rovers

Dundalk opened up the next phase of the MU20 League on Saturday afternoon with a hard-fought but fully deserved 3-1 win over Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park. Both teams had a positive start, with Dundalk settling down into a period of control that culminated in the opening goal.

Dundalk took the lead after 14 minutes when Liam O'Leary finished superbly past Ellie Kirby after a skilful solo run.

Rovers had a great opportunity to equalise when Marcel Gora saved from Callum Lynch's close-range effort. On the half-hour mark, Oisin Kelly was incredibly unlucky when his volley, following a partially cleared Rovers corner, smacked off the post.

Gora then made a stunning triple save, first to deny David Jonathan's close-range, powerful header, but then to recover to block close-range efforts from Daniel Cunningham. However, on the 40-minute mark, Gora had no chance when Aidan Gabbidon powerfully headed home from a corner to level the scores. Dundalk responded magnificently just two minutes later when, after Luke Mulligan was denied, the ball broke to TJ Molloy, who drilled a powerful low shot past Kirby.

Molloy was denied by Kirby after a great move involving Aaron Keogh and Luke Mulligan, before Gora was at his best again when he advanced from his line to make a stunning save from Corey McCay-Lavery. Mulligan was the next to go close, collecting a corner from Molloy and swerving a shot from 25 yards just wide of Kirby's far post.

Kirby made a smart save to deny a low shot from Conall Alfred, before Rhys O'Hare's effort was deflected just wide. Following the hydration break, Kirby was again called into action to tip Molloy's shot from 20 yards over the bar. Sligo's best chance was a Ross Ruane-Dalton shot from close range that went over the bar, while O'Leary nearly grabbed his second but his shot from inside the area went high and wide.

Gora was then called upon to make another stunning double save, somehow keeping out Conor Cannon's thundering close-range header, and then getting down low to block the rebound during the ensuing goalmouth scramble. Those saves proved crucial, as a few moments later Cian O'Leary set up Max Ferguson to make it 3-1.

Dundalk: Marcel Gora, Rhys O'Hare, Sean Spaight, Ethan Hall, Shay Casey, Luke Mulligan, TJ Molloy, Aaron Keogh, Max Ferguson, Liam O'Leary, Conall Alfred.  Subs: Cian O'Leary, Shayne O'Byrne, Matthew McCloskey, Caimin Murphy, Fremid Wadon, Caelan O'Brien, Leon Laban, Feranmi Makinwa, Karl Stenson-Browne.

Sligo Rovers: Kirby, Jonathan, Kelly, Cunningham, Cannon, Gabbidon, Stoskus, Gillispie, McCay-Lavery, Lynch, Morgan.  Subs: Conway, O'Malley, Tarpey, Reynolds, Ruane-Dalton. Photos: Gerry Scully