Galway U 0 Dundalk 3:MANAGER IAN Foster insists Dundalk are adopting a one-game-at-a-time policy, and though Setanta Cup fever is gripping the border town this routine win will provide plenty of encouragement ahead of a testing week.
On Monday Dundalk face a League encounter with Bohemians at Dalymount Park, and then next Saturday evening at Tallaght Stadium the Lilywhites face Shamrock Rovers in the first domestic senior final.
That Dundalk secured a good win will have encouraged the pragmatic Foster, who watched on in a content manner as his team duly went in at the interval armed with a two-goal lead in the west last night.
Galway were honest, but they lack the necessary craft to seriously threaten teams with Dundalk’s skill and after 33 minutes the visitors pounced. All year long Galway have been bothered by set pieces and Michael Hector glanced a Daniel Kearns free-kick over the line to nudge the visitors ahead.
Buoyed up by the goal, Dundalk then added a second four minutes before the break when Mark Quigley’s flash of class flattened an ailing Galway side.
After the restart Galway’s Alan Murphy twice went close, but Dundalk remained calm and composed with Kearns’ trickery out wide causing the locals problems throughout.
Galway battled, but Dundalk added a third goal in the 70th minute when Galway failed to deal with another free-kick. On this occasion it was a wicked Keith Ward delivery that centre half Hector scrambled over the line.
Substitute Enda Curran and Murphy came close to pinching a late consolation for Galway.
GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Sinnott, Maher, Walsh, Eduardo; Feeney, Sean Kelly, Gary Kelly (E Curran, 65); Keogh (Gilmore, 60), Murphy, Moore.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hector, Guthrie, Murphy; Kearns, McDonnell (Hawkins, 90), Ward, Gaynor; Quigley (Breen, 62), Byrne (Griffin, 73).
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).
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