DUNDALK CLOSE IN AS BRAY CRUISE
DUNDALK are refusing to give up on their title and will head to Cork on Monday night looking to close the gap at the top of the table to eight points after an extraordinary night in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division last night. Stephen Kenny’s side easily saw off neighbours Drogheda United at Oriel Park, with Cork City’s subsequent loss to Limerick FC at the Markets Field meaning a title race that looked over some time ago may just have a few twists and turns in it yet. While John Caulfield’s side remain in the driving seat with five games to go, Dundalk are keeping the pressure on. Six changes from the EA Sports Cup victory over Shamrock Rovers six days earlier meant it was Drogheda who had the best of the early chances with Brian Gartland heading off the line from Shane Elworthy and Gary Rogers saving well from Thomas Byrne. The breakthrough fell the home side’s way on 41 minutes, however, when Steven Kinsella stabbed home the rebound after Stephen McGuinness could only parry Stephen O’Donnell’s header. David McMillan then made it 2-0 on 65 minutes with a header from Sean Gannon’s cross. Drogheda would then have Thomas Byrne sent off eight minutes from the end for a second bookable offence before Michael Duffy wrapped up the win in stoppage time. DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Vemmelund, Massey; O’Donnell, Clifford; Connolly, McGrath, Kinsella (Duffy 47); McMillan. Subs not used: Sava, Shields, Hoare, McEleney, Grimes, Benson. Scorers: Kinsella 42, McMillan 52, Duffy 90+1 DROGHEDA UTD: McGuinness; Deasy (Elliott 62), Mulcahy, Buckley, Dunne; Wixted (Doyle 72), S Brennan, McEvoy, Purdy, Elworthy; Byrne. Subs not used: Farragher, Bayly, Masterson, Hollywood, Hogan. Referee: R Harvey (Dublin). THE presence of former Derry City favourite, Alex Krstic, failed to lift the spirits of his former club at Maginn Park last night as Bray put the home side to the sword. It was an embarrassing night for Kenny Shiels’ side, but they can have no complaints. Bray moved ahead in the 20th minute when Gary McCabe sent Aaron Greene clear and he deftly chipped over Ger Doherty. The Maginn Park crowd were then stunned by two strikes in 60 seconds from Darragh Noone and Ryan Brennan. McCabe’s rebound goal from Brennan hitting the post and another from Greene in the 79th minute killed off Derry, who spurned a consolation when Aaron McEneff missed a penalty. DERRY CITY: G. Doherty; McDermott, Toal, Barry, B Doherty; Low, McEneff; McIntyre (Schubert 70), McNamee, Curtis (Dolny 57); Patterson. BRAY WANDERERS: Cherrie; Buckley, Clancy, Kenna (Douglas 66), Moore; Brennan, Noon, Sullivan, Marks (Lynch 77); McCabe; Greene (Pender 81). Scorers: Greene 20, 79, Noone 34, Brennan 37, McCabe 57 Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).