DUNDALK GET FIRST TROPHY
Cork City 1 Dundalk 2
DOUBLE winners Dundalk picked up where they left off by pinching another piece of silverware from arch rivals Cork City. But nobody associated with either club will get carried away after this President’s Cup decider settled by Dane Massey and Pat Hoban goals. Kevin O’connor scored with a smashing free-kick from distance to mark his return to Leeside in style but it failed to spark a Rebels fightback late on. Perth kept faith with the tried and trusted and his starting XI was the same side that began the FAI Cup final win over these opponents in November. Rebels boss John Caulfield had to deal with considerable squad upheaval this winter and his team showed four changes from that Aviva Stadium showdown. Three of them were new faces; former UCD winger Daire O’connor, on-loan Brighton striker James Tilley and ex-bohemians centreback Dan Casey all got the nod. But despite their second-half revival, the hosts were kept at arm’s length and the contest was effectively over on the stroke of half-time. Hoban – the top scorer in the league last season – headed home to rubber-stamp Massey’s opener. Yet the Rebels had more about them after the break and O’connor raised the roof having returned here on loan from Preston. He curled home a gorgeous free-kick from 25-yards to give the Leesiders hope.