Fahrudin Kuduzovic's hat-trick helped Dundalk on their way to a fourth win in five games as they easily accounted for a struggling Galway United side at Oriel Park last night.

 

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

 

Galway United arrived without four first team regulars but were able to re-introduce 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 18^th minute. Kuduzovic, Daniel Kearns and Tom Miller combined beautifully on the edge of the box to set up Dean Bennett for a drive that whistled just past the post.

 

Dundalk looked to turn the screw just past the half hour with Kearns and Kuduzovic both seeing efforts hacked 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 44^th minute.

 

Kuduzovic got Dundalk off to a perfect start in the second-half when he turned home from Tom Miller's long throw. 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 sub Steven Lennon with three minutes to go.

 

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

 

Substitutes Not Used: Murphy, McDonnell.

 

Galway United: Geraghty; King (Cheevers 86), Mennell, Sinnott, Walsh; Keane, Curran, O'Donnell, O'Brien; Molloy (Preston-Kelly 65), K Sheppard.

 

Substitutes Not Used: Winn, Keogh, D Sheppard. 

 

Referee: N Doyle (Dublin).