
Gary Twigg
The Hoops got back to winning ways with a seven goal demolition of a Dundalk side that had other things on their mind. A fine opening goal from Ronan Finn started the rout and a couple of penalties from Gary McCabe and a couple of welcome goals for Gary Twigg rounded off a good nights work.
Rovers started the game well and they knocked the ball around on the greasy surfaceand after 5 minutes Brennan abd Powell combined to cross for Kilduff to shoot first time at the near post but he just missed the target. On 10 minutes a good ball from Brennan saw Kilduff flick the ball on for McCabe who found himself in on goal on the right hand side of the box but Cherrie beat away his shot with his legs.
Dundalk offered little going forward but Rafter wasn't far off target with a snap shot on 11 minutes. On 25 minutes a good turn and shot by Kilduff saw Cherrie well placed to save.
[GOAL 1:0 - 27th min.] A McCabe corner was cleared at the near post and the ball fell to Ronan Finn outside the box on the right-hand side and he turned quickly to shoot low through a crowded box and into the left-hand corner of the goal. It was just what the game needed.
[GOAL 2:0 - 30th min.] It was 2-0 just three minutes later when Brennan's free-kick on the right went across goal and sub Ken Oman shot past Cherrie from close range.
A Finn cross almost saw Twigg get a boot on the ball in front of goal while at the other end a rare Dundalk break saw Walsh cross straight to Jansson when there were other options in the area.
[GOAL 3:0 - 45th+2 min.] Just before the break a McCabe pass sent Finn in on the right and he looked up to pick out Kilduff who gladly swept the ball into the net past the helpless Cherrie.
The second-half started slowly but Cherrie had to be alert to clear from Kilduff before Shields made a fine interception to deny Twigg a shot on goal.
[GOAL 4:0 - 58th min.] A Finn cross into the box was headed on by Kilduff and Mountney was adjudged to have handled the ball as he cleared the ball from Twigg. Gary McCabe stepped up to fire the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.
On 63 minutes Gary Twigg had a golden chance to get on the scoresheet as Conor Powell's fine cross from the left wasn't cut out and the ball fell to the Scotsman but although his first touch was good he knocked the ball past Cherrie and past the left-hand post.
[GOAL 5:0 - 65th min.] Gary McCabe won possession in midfield and passed to Kilduff on the right inside the box but Paul Whelan was penalised for his tackle on the Hoops number eleven and Gary McCabe stepped up again to this time shoot into the left-hand corner of the net and banish the Car-Park end penalty jinx for good.
[GOAL 6:0 - 70th min.] A calamitous back pass from McDonnell went straight to Gary Twigg and he shot past Cherrie to score and got a rapturous reception from the Hoops faithful.
[GOAL 7:0 - 71st min.] A minute later a run from midfield from the impressive Ronan Finn saw him pick out Twigg with a low ball into the box and this time the finish was vintage Twigg as he shot high into the net past Cherrie.
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