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Kuduzovic hat-trick sees off struggling Galway

Dundalk 3 Galway Utd 0: A HAT-TRICK from Fahrudin Kuduzovic eased Dundalk to a fourth win in five games as they accounted for…

Sat Oct 02 2010 - 01:00

Dundalk 3 Galway Utd 0:A HAT-TRICK from Fahrudin Kuduzovic eased Dundalk to a fourth win in five games as they accounted for a struggling Galway United at Oriel Park last night.

Sean Connor’s side made the trip east with the weight of history heavily against them. The Tribesmen had only won once at the Louth venue, that win coming on the last day of the 1986-87 season.

And in truth, they never looked like changing that unwanted record at any stage of the 90 minutes.

A lacklustre opening yielded few chances. Matthew Tipton, with seven goals in eight starts for Dundalk, went close early on with a glancing flick that went just wide of Darragh Geraghty’s goal.

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Galway United arrived without four first-team regulars but were able to reintroduce Stephen O’Donnell to their starting 11. The midfielder had their first shot in anger after 10 minutes but his free-kick was blocked by Garry Breen.

The best move of the half came from Dundalk in the 18th minute. Kuduzovic, Daniel Kearns and Tom Miller combined beautifully on the edge of the box to set up Dean Bennett for a drive that just went past the post.

Dundalk looked to turn the screw just past the half hour with Kearns and Kuduzovic both seeing efforts cleared off the line by Stephen Walsh in quick succession.

Tipton was then denied by a great stop from Geraghty after a good attempt on the turn, and the Galway goalkeeper was thankful for his crossbar when Wayne Hatswell thumped a header towards goal in the 44th minute.

Kuduzovic got Dundalk off to a perfect start in the second-half when he turned home from Tom Miller’s long throw in the 46th minute. His second came from the same route with 20 minutes to go, the Bosnian firing home again from six-yards.

Galway offered very little to suggest they could get back into things, and Kuduzovic sealed the win when he swept home after good work by substitute Steven Lennon with three minutes to go.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Breen, Burns (Kelly, 35 mins), Hatswell; Kearns, Miller, Bennett (Maher, 65 mins), Gaynor; Kuduzovic, Tipton (Lennon, 81 mins).

GALWAY UNITED: Geraghty; King, Mennell, Sinnott, Walsh; Keane, Curran, O'Donnell, O'Brien; Molloy, K Sheppard.

Referee: Neil Doyle(Dublin).