Kearns' treble too good for Linfield

Linfield 3 Dundalk 5:BABY-FACED striker Daniel Kearns, the player who was at the centre of an international football row last year, hit a hat-trick as Dundalk thumped Irish League champions Linfield in Windsor Park last night.

The border-town club, marking its first competitive game with Linfield since the infamous European Cup ties in 1979, also marked this Setanta Sports Cup debut with an emphatic display.

Kearns, 19, was in the middle of a tug-o-war between the IFA and FAI last year after the west Belfast youngster opted to play for the Republic.

The row ended up before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which eventually ruled in favour of the player who has represented his adopted country at underage level.

Released by West Ham last season, Kearns completed an impressive treble in injury-time at Windsor Park, while Mark Quigley also bagged a brace.

Quigley and Jason Byrne were involved in the 31st minute move which saw Dundalk take the lead, Kearns running through to finish from 10 yards.

Linfield levelled two minutes before half-time when Nathan Murphy fouled BJ Burns in the area and Peter Thompson scored from the awarded penalty.

Mark Quigley restored Dundalk’s lead with a 54th-minute shot low into the corner only for Linfield to level again.

They were awarded a penalty in the 63rd minute when Thompson was brought down by Colin Hawkins. Goalkeeper Peter Cherrie saved Thompson’s spot-kick but Garrett followed up to score.

Dundalk took the lead for a third time when Kearns scored from a Byrne pass on 67 minutes.

Eleven minutes later it was 4-2 to Dundalk as Quigley netted after Byrne had once again set up the chance.

Substitute Allen gave Linfield hope in the 81st minute, pouncing to shoot in after his initial header had come back off the woodwork.

But Kearns scored a superb individual goal in stoppage-time, running from his own half to beat Blayney.

LINFIELD: Blayney, Gault, Murphy (Armstrong, 71 mins), Thompson, BJ Burns, Hanley (Allen, 74 mins), Garrett, Mulgrew, McAllister, Casement. Subs not used: O’Kane, Addis, Ervin, Munster, McCaul. Booked: BJ Burns, Hanley, Garrett.

DUNDALK: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, Kearns, Quigley, Byrne, Gaynor, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (McDonnell 83). Subs not used: Maher, P Murphy, Griffin, Breen. Booked: Gaynor, Madden, Bolger.

Referee: S Weatherall (Belfast).