SEAN SHINING
Hoare impresses in front of O’neill & Keane
SEAN HOARE was the star of the show at Dalymount Park as Dundalk maintained their two-point lead at the top of the table.
Operating at right-back in the absence of Sean Gannon, the 24-year-old played a major part in Patrick Hoban’s opener before sealing Dundalk’s third win in the space of a week with a late header.
His impressive showing came in front of watching Ireland bosses Martin O’neill and Roy Keane.
Bohs manager Keith Long promised that his team ‘would have a go’ but their game plan went out the window after just four minutes when Hoban opened the scoring with his 12th goal of the season.
Hoare, who was given acres of space on the right in the first half, picked out Michael Duffy at the far post and the SWAI Player of the Month for April beat Keith Buckley in the air to set up Hoban for a crisp finish.
The Lilywhites striker had already sounded a warning, heading a Duffy corner wide with just over a minute played and Dundalk continued to look the most likely with Hoare flashing a left-footed drive over Shane Supple’s crossbar.
Bohs looked lethargic for long periods but posed a threat when they came alive and Dinny Corcoran forced Gary Rogers into an excellent save midway through the half.
Hoare continued to give Dundalk an outlet on the right and Duffy rose to meet his whipped cross in the 27th minute to test Supple. The former St Pat’s defender then accepted another invitation to cut inside and let fly with his left peg, this attempt whistling past.
Bohs finished the half strongly and Corcoran thought he had equalised when he swivelled to turn the ball goalwards but Chris Shields came out of nowhere to hack to safety.
Dundalk saw it out comfortably in the second half with Brian Gartland powering a downward header over and Duffy crashed an effort against the bar.
And Hoare got the goal his display deserved when he headed home a Dane Massey centre with seven minutes to play.
38% POSSESSION 62% 8 SHOTS ON TARGET 6 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET 8 4 CORNERS 8 16 FOULS 5 2 CARDS 0 0 0
Supple; Buckley, Cornwall, Casey, Byrne, Kirkl Brennan (Grant 76), Watts, Morris, Stokes (Ward 76);
Corcoran. Rogers; Hoare, Gartland, Cleary, Massey; Benson (Jarvis 86), Shields; Connolly (Adorjan 66), Mcgrath, Duffy; Hoban (Tagbajumi 81).
Paul Mclaughlin.
CORK CITY 4 BRAY WANDERERS 0 FIRST half goals from Jimmy Keohane and Sean Mcloughlin eased the champions to a well-deserved victory over bottom club Bray at Turner’s Cross last night.
Before a 4,000-plus crowd, City chalked up their eighth home win of the season to maintain their 100% record at the Curragh Road venue. Keohane (left) fired the Leesiders ahead from Barry Mcnamee’s slide rule pass in the third minute but they had to wait until two minutes before the interval to double their advantage when Mcloughlin rifled home. Graham Cummins with a tap-in and Garry Buckley second half goals.