John Caulfield's Galway United spoil Dundalk's centenary party at Oriel Park

Goals in either half from Ed McCarthy and Kris Twardek secured a huge victory for the Tribesmen.

PARTY POOPER: John Caulfield arrives before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Dundalk and Galway United at Oriel Park. Pic: Paul Phelan/Sportsfile

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026 - 21:55

James Rogers

Dundalk 1 Galway United 2

On the night that Dundalk celebrated their centenary of joining the League of Ireland, Galway United spoiled the party at Oriel Park as goals in either half from Ed McCarthy and Kris Twardek secured a huge victory for the Tribesmen.

While Trevor Clarke did pull a goal back for the hosts in the closing stages to set up a nervy finish, it was repeat result of that 2-1 loss away to Fordsons 100 years ago for Ciarán Kilduff’s side – who have now taken just two points from the last 21 on offer.

The Co Louth side dominated proceedings but failed to do enough to trouble John Caulfield’s side, who are now just four points behind the Lilywhites with a game in hand.

This result made it five unbeaten – two wins and three draws – for the Tribesmen and was a huge boost in their bid to avoid the relegation play-off.

While Ronan Teahan had gone close for Dundalk a minute earlier, Galway silenced Oriel Park by taking the lead on eight minutes.

A routine ball forward from goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha was knocked down by Stephen Walsh to McCarthy, who ghosted past a flailing challenge from Aodh Dervin before curling an effort over Minogue.

The home side dominated after that but Galway managed to double their lead with just their third attempt on 55 minutes when Anthony O’Connor got to the end line before pulling back for Twardek to tap home.

A brilliant free kick from Clarke, which he curled over the wall into the top right hand corner with five minutes to go gave the home side hope of a revival.

They thought it had arrived too on 87 minutes when Bobby Burns’ cross from the left picked Clarke out at the back post but with the goal gaping his effort came off his own player, Egor Vassenin, before going wide.

Dundalk: Minogue; Dervin (McDaid 59), Animasahun, Cornwall (Tracey 71), Grivosti (Groome 59); Buckley, Burns; Teahan (Vassenin 71), Horgan, Clarke; Dillon (Gaxha 59).

Galway United: Pires da Cunha; Keohone, Williams, O’Connor, Facchineri;, Devitt, Kavanagh (Wolfe 62) (Thiam 95); Twardek (Pierrot 74), Hurley, McCarthy; Walsh (Lomboto 74) (Kazeem 95).

Referee: Mark Houlihan (Clare).