ACADEMY ROUND-UP: 12-13TH OCTOBER
Dominican Republic U20 international Aidan Russell Vargas was on the mark for Dundalk’s MU20 team as they made it four wins on the spin in Longford on Saturday, on another busy weekend for our underage teams.
Muhammad Haris opened the scoring for Dundalk against Longford Town in their LOI Academy MU20 Tier Two North clash at Bishopsgate, with his 23rd-minute goal added to early in the second half by first-teamer Luke Mulligan.
The young Lilywhites put the game to bed in the 73rd minute through Russell Vargas, and then Haris grabbed his second of the day from the penalty spot with ten minutes remaining to make it 4-0. The home side netted an injury-time consolation through Callum Bonner.
Dundalk are in third place in the standings on 18 points, one behind second-placed Sligo Rovers and four adrift of leaders Galway United. Dundalk have two games remaining as both Derry City and Sligo will visit the Wee County.
In the MU15 Phase 2 Tier Two North, Dundalk missed the chance to go top of the table as they lost 4-2 to Finn Harps in Donegal on Saturday. Harps, who joined Dundalk in second on 25 points with the win, took a commanding first-half lead through Leighton Green’s brace.
The young Lilywhites responded after the break with Pauric Maguire’s 58th-minute goal, but the home side quickly sealed the points with quick-fire efforts from Temple Akpo and Green, who completed his hat-trick. Dundalk netted again in the 90th minute through Callum Delahan.
Dundalk remain two points behind leaders Derry but will have the opportunity to leapfrog them on the final day as they clash. Harps, who have a trip to fifth-placed Sligo left, are level with Dundalk on points but have a much inferior goal difference.
In the WU17 Tier Two North on Saturday, Dundalk extended their lead at the top of the standings to three points with a 2-0 win over Finn Harps at Corry Park, thanks to goals from Ernesta Marut and Nana Yaa Owusu.
Second and third-placed Galway United and Drogheda United played out a 1-1 draw, to see Dundalk move clear on 22 points, but Galway have two games in hand. Dundalk have two matches left, at home to Sligo and away to Mayo.
On Sunday, Dundalk’s MU14 side were beaten 3-0 by Finn Harps in Group C Phase 2 at Letterkenny Community Centre. They have three games still to play, including two at home, as they look to finish off their season strongly.
At Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon, Dundalk were beaten 1-0 by Galway in the WU19 Tier Two North, as they missed the opportunity to leapfrog their opponents at the top of the table. Dundalk are now four points adrift in second place with just a trip to Harps left.
Dundalk FC Results & Scorers
Saturday 12th October
MU20: Longford Town 1-4 Dundalk (Haris (2), Mulligan & Russell Vargas)
MU15: Finn Harps 4-2 Dundalk (Maguire & Delahan)
WU17: Finn Harps 0-2 Dundalk (Marut & Owusu)
Sunday 13th October
MU14: Finn Harps 3-0 Dundalk
WU19: Dundalk 0-1 Galway United
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