SCOTTISH Cup finalists Hearts had an easy enough win over a Dundalk side that included a number of youth players in the friendly at Oriel Park last night.

Dundalk looked particularly vulnerable at the back where they badly missed Stephen Napier, and it was no great surprise when the visitors went in front after only six minutes with a goal scored by John Colquhoun.

Dundalk had a number of lucky escapes before Hearts went two up in the 29th minute when young David Maher gave John Robertson a chance to score.

Ia the second half, Colin Cameron took advantage of another defensive error to touch the ball past goalkeeper John Grace in the 49th minute and leave the game as good as over.

Dundalk had some consolation five minutes later when their Down GAA star, Peter Withnell, scored a good goal after he broke through the Hearts defence.

The visitors could have doubled their score, but substitute Alan Lawrence shot wide of an empty goal on at least two occasions and other Hearts attackers experienced a bout of poor finishing.

. Jim McLoughlin, one of Ireland's most famous football managers, made a comeback to Irish soccer last night when it was announced by the chairman of Dundalk, Mr Enda McGuill, that he had been appointed as one of four new directors of the local club.

The three other new Dundalk directors are Elizabeth Duffy (the club secretary), Michael O'Connor and John Byrne.