Dundalk progressed to the second round of the Extra.ie FAI Cup with a comprehensive four-nil victory over Longford Town at Oriel Park.
All four goals came in a 10 minute second-half spell. A double salvo from Greg Sloggett and a goal each from Joe Adams and Pat Hoban sealed the Lilywhite’s victory.
Dundalk created all the chances in the first-half although the pace of Longford striker Jordan Adeyemo posed problems for the Lilywhite’s defence.
On three minutes, the dangerous Steven Bradley set-up Sloggett with a clever, short defence-splitting pass. Slogett pulled his shot narrowly wide from the edge of the Longford box.
On 17 minutes, Keith Ward floated a dangerous cross in from the left, Pat Hoban could only head wide.
Six minutes later the premier division side unlocked town's defence with a superb flowing move. Ward, Paul Doyle, and Rune Hauge all involved, Hoban eventually blasting over from the just inside the penalty area.
The hosts missed a gilt-edged chance to hit the front on 32 minutes. Hoban played the ball out wide to the overlapping Hauge on the left. Hauge's low cross picked out the unmarked Ward who shot narrowly wide from eight-yards.
Five minutes before the interval, the Midlander's had to rely on keeper Luke Dennison to keep their goal intact. Dennison produced a fine save from Darragh Leahy’s long-range effort.
Dundalk almost scored on the stroke of half-time. Ward’s corner was headed on by Andy Boyle to Bradley at the back-post. Bradley's tight angle shot crashed against the Longford post.
The hosts dominance continued in the second-half. Within a minute of the resumption, Dennison pushed a Ward shot around the post.
On 52 minutes, Doyle’s left-wing corner evaded several players before finding Hoban, whose twelve-yard strike flew wide.
The introduction of Dundalk substitutes Joe Adams and Ryan O’Kane on two minutes later proved deceive.
A brilliant passage of play involving an exchange of passes between Adams and Bradley carved open the Longford defence. Adams unleashed a shot that produced a fine save from Longford keeper Dennison, Sloggett pounced to fire home the rebound.
Two minutes later the hosts doubled their advantage. Bradley played the ball wide to the overlapping Macari, the cross was powered to the Longford net by Hoban’s close-range header.
Just two further minutes elapsed when the Lilywhites went three up. A long-range Adams shot squeezed under Dennison into the back of the net.
Dundalk scored their fourth goal on 68 minutes after Sloggett slid in to tap home from close range after a superb run and cross from O’Kane.
Some excellent saves from Longford keeper Dennison prevented the hosts from adding to their total in the last quarter as Dundalk eased into the next round.
Dundalk (4-4-1-1): Shepperd, Macari, Boyle, Bone, Leahy, Bradley, Sloggett, Doyle, Hauge, Ward, Hoban.
Substitutes: Adams for Ward, O’Kane for Hauge (both 54 minutes), McMillan for Hoban, Mountney for Doyle, Martin for Sloggett (all 70 minutes).
Longford Town (4-3-1-2): Dennison, Elworthy, McDonnell, Barker, Barnett, McCann, Robinson, McMenamy, Corbally, Verdon, Adeyemo.
Substitutes: Chambers for McCann (56 minutes), Adam Verdon for Sam Verdon (61 minutes) Lynch for Barnett, O’Brien for Robinson, Clarke for Adeyemo (all 75 minutes).
Referee: Alan Patchell.
