Declan McDaid's late double against Galway United moves Dundalk up to third

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Declan McDaid of Dundalk celebrates his brace. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

Dundalk 2 (McDaid 81, 84) Galway Utd 1 (Walsh 90)

Declan McDaid’s late double saw Dundalk claim a first victory over Galway United since 2017 as they moved up to third in the table.

Ciarán Kilduff’s side largely dominated proceedings at Oriel Park but were struggling to find the breakthrough until the Scot came off the bench to score twice in the space of four minutes to kill off the visitors’ hopes of three wins in-a-row in the top-flight for the first time in 17 years.

John Caulfield’s side did pull a goal back with a brilliant bicycle kick from Stephen Walsh in the 90th minute but they can have little complaint in the result having been second best for long spells.

It was largely one-way traffic in the opening half as the home side dominated proceedings with Eoin Kenny, Ronan Teahan, Daryl Horgan and Bobby Burns all going close.

Horgan rattled the crossbar from just a few yards out on 64 minutes before Harvey Warren had a header brilliantly cleared from off the line by Bolger as Dundalk continued to be frustrated in the second half.

However, the breakthrough finally arrived on 81 minutes when Tyreke Wilson sent a teasing ball in from the right which McDaid was on hand to bundle home at the back post.

The Scot then added a second three minutes later with a close-range tap-in after Harry Groome’s effort was parried by Evan Watts.

Walsh did set up a nervy finish when he sent a brilliant bicycle kick to the net in the 90th minute but it was too little, too late for the Tribesmen.

Dundalk: Minogue; JR Wilson, Animasahun, Warren, T Wilson; Buckley, Burns (Groome 73); Kenny (McDaid 73), Teahan (Tracey 68), Horgan; Arubi.

Galway United: Watts; Parker, Brouder, Facchineri, Devitt (Lomboto 87); Bolger (Piesold 72), Wolfe (Barratt 55); Twardek, Hurley, McCarthy (Williams 87); Pierrot (Walsh 55).

Referee: Daryl Carolan.