Dundalk complete the job

SETANTA CUP: Dundalk 1 Linfield 1DUNDALK WILL play Glentoran in the quarter-finals after securing this draw, and a 6-4 aggregate win over Linfield at Oriel Park last night.

The home side opened brightly and Colin Hawkins almost scored inside 60 seconds when he found himself on the end of Ross Gaynor’s cross but Michael Gault made a fantastic last-ditch block.

Linfield looked dangerous from set-pieces and Peter Cherrie had to be alert to save from William Murphy’s header in the ninth minute after the Blues captain was afforded plenty of room to get his effort away.

Dundalk stretched their aggregate lead in the 11th minute following some shocking defending by the Irish League side. Aidan O’Kane’s back pass was cut out by Jason Byrne who, after rounding Alan Blayney, tried to pick out Danny Kearns. Murphy failed to clear his lines and Gaynor was on hand to smash home the loose ball from just inside the penalty area.

David Jeffrey’s side kept plugging away and Garrett tested Cherrie with a 20-yard drive before Marcus Kane flashed a vicious effort just wide with Cherrie motionless. By that stage the tie could have been dead and buried with Mark Quigley seeing a wonderful effort from 35-yards crash back off the bar following more questionable defending in the Linfield ranks.

Linfield were handed a massive reprieve in first-half injury time. Kane’s corner caused panic in the Dundalk six-yard box and Gault emerged from a crowd of bodies to force the ball home.

Despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half, Linfield never really opened Dundalk up. In the 68th minute Robert Garrett stole in unmarked only to head Jim Ervin’s cross well off target.

DUNDALK: P Cherrie; S Madden, S Guthrie, C Hawkins, E Osborne; G Bolger (K Ward 81), D Bennett; D Kearns, M Quigley, R Gaynor (S Maher 61); J Byrne.

LINFIELD: A Blayney; J Ervin, W Murphy, D Armstrong, A O'Kane; J Mulgrew, R Garrett, M Gault, M Kane (C Allen 77); M McAllister, P Thompson.

Referee: Damien Hancock.