Dundalk extend lead after three goal win
Thursday 24th May 2007, 10:23 pm
Dave Crawley, opened the scoring for Dundalk against Shelbourne.
Photo by Tom Carey.
24th May 2007
eircom League of Ireland First Division
Dundalk 3
David Crawley 2
Paul Smyth 65
Phillip Hughes 77
Shelbourne 0
Oriel Park
Dundalk took advantage of being the first team to take to the field in the First Division of the eircom League this weekend, opening up a five point lead at the top of the table following a 3-0 win over Shelbourne at Oriel Park tonight.
Any hope Shels had of causing an upset all but vanished when former player Dave Crawley fired home a second minute free kick to give Dundalk the perfect start.
Shels offered some resistance until Paul Smyth put Dundalk 2-0 up on 65 minutes. Smyth drilled home a low shot to net his first for Dundalk and Cathal O'Connor had played him in. Phillip Hughes then struck on 77 minutes to put the game well and truly beyond the visitors.
Last year's top scorer in the second tier, Hughes netted his fifth of the season after a scything run through the Shels defence was capped off by a powerful shot to the net.
Dundalk : Bennion, Flanagan, Lynch, Whelehan (McGauley 38), Crawley, O'Connor, Marney, Williams (R Dunne 74), K Dunne, Hughes, Smyth (Perth 70).
Shelbourne : O'Dowd, O'Reilly, Rafferty, Brophy, Ryan, Murphy, Chambers, Lacey (O'Neill 72), Harte, McEniff (Walsh 46), Leech.