MIDFIELDER Greg Bolger notched his first goals in a Dundalk shirt as the Lilywhites swept aside troubled Galway United at Oriel Park.

 

The Tribesmen's off the field problems have been well documented in recent days. Unfortunately it looks just as bleak for them on the pitch, this latest defeat was their 15th in succession.

Dundalk opened brightly and Galway goalkeeper Greg Fleming was called into action to deny Mark Quigley on two occasions. Fleming was also thankful for the intervention of his defenders to turn a couple of vicious Ross Gaynor deliveries which looked to have had goal written all over them.

Galway almost took a shock lead with their first opening in the 17th minute. Bobby Ryan took control of a high ball before driving a cracking effort at goal which Peter Cherrie did well to turn over the bar.

The Lilywhites hit the front three minutes later when Greg Bolger beat Fleming with the aid of a wicked deflection from 20-yards. Gaynor was the architect, skipping away from Ryan on the left before cutting the ball back for Quigley to ease into Bolger's path.

The duo combined again for Dundalk's second in the 44th minute, exchanging passes on the edge of the box for Bolger to nip in between two Galway defenders and lift the ball over Fleming. Quigley added a third just seconds later, driving home from 12-yards.

Keith Ward made it 4-0 with a deft effort in the 47th minute before Marc Griffin hit his fifth goal in just 10 league appearances with a downward header shortly after.

Galway pulled one back when Gary Kelly squeezed the ball past Cherrie in the 55th minute before Dundalk sub Johnny Breen made it 6-1 with 20 minutes to go.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Bennett, Guthrie, N Murphy; Kearns, Ward (Maher 60), Bolger, Gaynor; Griffin (Breen 60), Quigley (Byrne 71).

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Shaun Kelly (Gartland 71), Sinnott, Walshe, G Kelly; Ryan (Caldwell 49), Curran, Dusi, Moore (Holland 76); Gilmore, Murphy.

REFEREE: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan).