WHITES BACK IN SILVER AFTER EA SPORTS VICTORY
DAVID MCMILLAN and Patrick Mceleney combined for their 20th and 10th goals of the season respectively as Dundalk clinched the EA Sports Cup in style.
Sub Tommy Stewart added gloss to the scoreline deep in injury time at Tallaght Stadium by scoring with his first touch seconds after coming on.
Both Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers went into this showdown dreaming of cup doubles as they meet again in a fortnight the FAI Cup semi-final.
But it’s the Lilywhites who cradle that candle after scooping the first silverware of the season in a fine tie that saw Rovers finish with 10-men after Aaron Bolger saw red after the hour.
Dundalk were off to a flyer as red-hot striker Mcmillan powered Kenny’s (above) charges into a fifth minute lead.
Having found space in the box to reach a Michael Duffy corner, he planted a header high into the Rovers net which fullback Simon Madden couldn’t keep out on the line.
And the Lilywhites were eager to hit the Hoops for a second with Shane Grimes and Robbie Benson both teasing goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski in the opening 20 minutes.
But with Trevor Clarke raiding down the left and Ronan Finn orchestrating in midfield, Rovers finally found their footing.
And Stephen Bradley’s charges dominated possession for the rest of the opening half but, crucially, failed to test goalkeeper Gabriel Sava.
Dundalk defended well and cut a dash in the final third whenever they wriggled free and surged into space.
Mcmillan was agonisingly close to doubling his tally when steering a first-time shot from Mceleney’s cross a yard wide of Chencinski’s post. And the Canadian then got down to smother a Duffy shot from 12 yards as the reigning league champions re-established a hold.
And they carried that into the second-half where they were the dominant side - well before Bolger’s 65th minute sending off on a second yellow after a wild challenge on Vemmelund.
That was the Hoops seventh red card this year in all competitions and did them no favours as they struggled to impose themselves on Dundalk thereafter.
And Mcmillan again went close to bagging a second with 15-minutes to play.
But Mceleney ensured the trophy would be heading up the M1 with the insurance strike nine minutes from time.
Rovers were jaded and Jamie Mcgrath scampered down the right before slipping a ball inside for Mceleney who drove home with the aid of the post. And Stewart then made it look easy with the third deep in injury time.