Kenny eyes cup double after Dundalk crush Rovers
DUNDALK turned on the style to pummel 10-man Shamrock Rovers in yesterday’s EA Sports Cup final.
The three-in-a-row league champions are about to lose their crown to runaway leaders Cork City but they looked every bit the side with a 12-point buffer on thirdplaced Rovers in yesterday’s decider at the home of the Hoops in Tallaght.
Slack marking from a Michael Duffy corner after only five minutes allowed David McMillan head in and give Dundalk the edge in the battle of the in-form teams. Having 17-year-old Aaron Bolger sent-off for a needless second booking 25 minutes from full-time sunk Rovers into deeper trouble, which was duly punished by goals in the last 10 minutes from Patrick McEleney and substitute Thomas Stewart.
‘You never get tired of winning cup finals,’ said jubilant manager Stephen Kenny, whose purple patch with the Lilywhites began in 2014 by lifting this trophy.
‘We have some experienced players but this was a first Cup medal for many of them, including Robbie Benson. There’s a chance of getting to another final, if we beat Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup semi-final in a fortnight, and I know we’ll have to improve for that one.’
Doubtless Rovers will need to up their game too. They were slow in recovering from the early concession, taking until near the interval to pose a threat up front.
David McAllister twice went close to equalising, his first effort from a header clipping the near post before an audacious overhead kick angled just a yard wide.
After referee Derek Tomney issued Bolger with a red card following a rash challenge on Niclas Vemmelund, the Louth side dominated, with McEleney’s splendid rising shot finding the top corner nine minutes from full-time.
Stewart, only on the pitch, gave the visiting fans more to sing about in the rain by slipping the ball beyond Tomer Chencinski in stoppage-time.