IT WAS A RECORD-breaking night in Ballybofey for the wrong reasons tonight.
Finn Harps 0 Dundalk 7
When Paddy Barrett shot low past Ciaran Gallagher in injury time for Dundalk’s seventh goal, it was a strike that confirmed Harps’ worst ever League defeat.
A six-goal League defeat was last seen around these parts in April 1977 when Drogheda United left here with a 7-1 win.
That was on the verge of being leveled as Dundalk went six up by the 72nd minute, but substitute Barrett drilled to the net in added time to compound the misery on a forgettable night for Harps.
[adrotate group=”38″]Robbie Benson’s was a name sounded by Ollie Horgan throughout last season as one of the players in the First Division he admired most.
‘We don’t have a Robbie Benson’ Horgan would often remind us of a player then with UCD.
Stephen Kenny was also an admirer and took Benson to Oriel Park in the winter.
Benson – who scored against Harps in a 1-0 win in July and another in a 2-2 draw earlier in the season – returned to haunt the Harps manager with a brace of first half goals here that sent the Lilywhites on their way to a facile win.
David McMillan grabbed a brace and Daryl Horgan weighed in with a strike that will, at least, be a Goal of the Month contender on Soccer Republic before defender Andy Boyle headed home in the 72nd minute.
The night had long since become an ordeal by the time Boyle’s header, from a corner by former Harps man Darren Meenan, crept past the unfortunate Ciaran Gallagher.
Harps purred into this game, energised by a pulsating 2-2 derby draw with Derry City at the Brandywell on Tuesday night, when Sean Houston rescued a dramatic point.
But the zip was quickly removed from their pack when Dundalk broke the deadlock just five minutes in.
Sean Gannon got enough space on the right-hand side to send over a delicious cross that was converted by Benson, heading past Gallagher from close range.
On 20 minutes, Dundalk doubled the lead, this time with a cracking finish to the top corner from just inside the box, sailing past Gallagher after John Mountney touched down a cross from Daryl Horgan.
In between times, the champions could have had another, but Brian Gartland’s header at the back post was a timid one. After connecting to Horgan’s corner, Gartland meekly nodded down and wide.
[adrotate group=”62″]When Dundalk’s third did arrive, it was a work of beauty by Daryl Horgan, who beat Gallagher all ends up with a sumptuous strike in the 36th minute.
A dipping effort from 30 yards, after he made the most of the time and space afforded to him, flew past the helpless Gallagher.
Horgan created the fourth with a galloping run down the left-hand side. Ronan Finn connected with his centre and his goal-bound effort was turned in by McMillan, who got a foot in ahead of Gallagher.
It was quite apparent that Harps were feeling the effects of their energy-sapping display in Derry.
[adrotate group=”46″]Gareth Harkin was cleared to play having sustained a calf injury in last Friday’s scoreless draw with Bohemians. Harkin missed the Derry game and returned here in place of Tony McNamee, who hobbled off late in the Brandywell nursing a hamstring injury.
Harps attacks were few and far between. Houston drew a routine save from Gary Rogers and half-time sub Ethan Boyle saw a deflected cross gathered by the Dundalk goalkeeper.
Things didn’t get much better for Harps as McMillan got the better of Packie Mailey’s for Dundalk’s fifth, with a razor-sharp finish when using the Harps defender to obscure the view of Gallagher.
When Benson tumbled over Gallagher’s challenge, it seemed as if Dundalk were set to be awarded a penalty but referee Tom Connolly thought otherwise and booked the Dundalk man for simulation.
[adrotate group=”51″]Boyle headed in a sixth and Harps were calling for mercy. Barrett didn’t listen and added number seven.
Harps now head for St Patrick’s Athletic on Tuesday night. It doesn’t get any easier.
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Dave Scully (Ethan Boyle half-time), Barry Molloy (Kevin McHugh 65), Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin; Adam Hanlon; Ryan Curran (Liam Flatley 76).
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Daryl Horgan, Ronan Finn (Darren Meenan 65), Chris Shiels (George Poynton 74), John Mountney, Robbie Benson; David McMillan (Paddy Barrett 59).
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin).
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