McMillan double a tonic for Lilies
Stephen Kenny’s Lilies looked to be in danger of suffering their first home league defeat of the season when they trailed 2-1 at the break.
Despite taking the lead through captain Andy Boyle midway through the half, two stunning strikes from Bohemians’ Karl Moore and Dinny Corcoran meant that the Louth club’s mental fortitude was seriously put to the test.
They came through that examination with flying colours, however, with McMillan making the difference.
Kenny has been reluctant to pair the former Sligo ace with leading scorer Pat Hoban this season but did just that at half-time and was rewarded as McMillan hit his 14th and 15th goals of the campaign to keep the Lilywhites in pole position for a first league title in 19 years.
This result, coupled with Cork City’s draw at Athlone Town, means the border outfit stand six points clear with just seven games to play. Their superior goal difference also means they can almost afford to lose twice between now and the end of the season and still not be caught.
After this result, their self-belief is sure to rocket to even greater heights.
After both sides had squandered half-chances early on, the home side took the lead on 22 minutes.
Darren Meenan’s corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by Pat Hoban and looked to be going wide until captain Andy Boyle popped up at the back post with a bullet-like header for his second goal of the season.
Dundalk’s joy was short-lived, however, as Oriel Park was stunned into silence by a wonder strike from Moore seven minutes later.
The 25-year-old former Manchester City trainee was shown in from the right onto his left foot but proved he can hit the ball equally well with either foot as he hammered a stunning left-footed shot to the top left-hand corner.
The Lilywhites should have retaken the lead in the 33rd minute when another Meenan corner was met on the six-yard line by Brian Gartland, but the centre-half’s header was directed straight at Dean Delany, who managed to parry before his defenders hooked the ball to safety.
Bohs then took the most unlikeliest of leads three minutes before the break. Winger Moore cut in off the right before laying off to Corcoran, who turned and fired another screamer past Peter Cherrie.
Two minutes after the restart Dundalk missed a fantastic chance to level when substitute McMillan’s cross was glanced inches wide by Hoban.
The club’s leading scorer got in again moments later when he held off Roberto Lopes only to rifle just over Delany’s crossbar.
The equaliser finally arrived on 54 minutes when Daryl Horgan’s cross from the left was deftly headed on by McMillan, with the ball creeping into the bottom right-hand corner despite Delany getting a hand to it.
It was Bohs who threatened to take the lead on the hour mark, however, when former Lilywhite favourite Jason Byrne headed just over from a corner.
Dundalk showed just why they stand top of the league, however, by sealing the game in the 77th minute. Boyle’s punt into the area saw Delany clear under pressure from Hoban. The loose ball fell kindly for McMillan, however, who met it on the half-volley to rifle his effort into the bottom left-hand corner.
Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Meenan (McDermott 67), Shields (Higgins 73), Towell, Horgan; Byrne (McMillan HT), Hoban.
Delany; Pender, Lopes, Prices, Memery (Evans 81); Moore, Wearen, Walsh, Devanney; Byrne, Corcoran.
Derek Tomney (Dublin).
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