David McMillan’s double extends Dundalk’s lead at the summit

Dundalk 2 Galway United 1

David McMillan's deadly finishing proved to be too much for Galway United at Oriel Park last night as Dundalk moved five points clear at the top of the SSE Airtricity League.

McMillan put the champions ahead with a poacher’s effort in the 69th minute, smashing home after great work by Robbie Benson and Daryl Horgan.

He looked to made sure of the win nine minutes later, showing great composure to lob the ball into an empty net from all of 35-yards after Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn had vacated his penalty area to try to clear a Dundalk attack.

Eric Foley pulled one back for the visitors in the 94th minute but it meant little in the end as Dundalk saw it out to extend their lead at the summit.

Despite controlling the vast majority of the first half, the Lilywhites were left frustrated at the break. Benson came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute but Winn made a fine save to turn the midfielder’s header over the top.

The champions injected real pace into their play in the second half and a fantastic move involving McMillan, Mountney and Ronan Finn in the 49th minute ended with Seán Gannon seeing his attempt creep across the line and wide of Winn’s far post.

Galway responded and Enda Curran delivered from the right but the league’s top scorer, Vinny Faherty, just couldn’t control his header as the ball spun up awkwardly off the artificial surface.

Control

Dundalk took charge after that and Horgan powered the ball over the top from a Mountney cut back before McMillan did likewise two minutes later, blazing over from six-yards.

Stephen Kenny’s side continued to attack in waves and the pressure eventually told in the 69th minute.

Horgan, again, was involved, cutting in from the right to pick out Benson to his left and the former UCD man took a clever touch to leave Killian Cantwell flat footed before delivering a perfect cutback for McMillan to smash home.

His second goal arrived nine minutes later when he showed great technique to return Winn’s clearance with great accuracy and although Foley set up a nervy last couple of seconds with a close-range effort, McMillan’s brace proved to be decisive.

DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Boyle, Gartland, Boyle; Shields, Benson (Poynton, 90 mins); Mountney, Finn (Barrett, 87 mins), Horgan; McMillan (Meenan, 85 mins).
GALWAY UTD: Winn; C Horgan, Cantwell, Sinnott, Walsh; Shanahan (Devaney, 75 mins), Sullivan, Byrne (Foley, 80 mins), Ludden; Faherty, Curran (Keating, 70 mins).
Referee: R Matthews (Mullingar).