With a share of spoils on Windsor Park on Friday back in
Belfast, the stage was ready for both Ireland leagues champions to decide this affair
in the second leg in the first-ever Unite the Union Cup at Dundalk’s Oriel
Park.
What a season for newcomer manager Vinnie Perth winning
his third trophy in his debut season and now with the prospects of making a
decorous run in the upcoming qualifiers for the stages group of the Champions
League.
Despite the opposition of Linfield in the first game and coming
even to Dundalk, the DFC was ready to put on a show in front an of an anemic crowd
of 2,400 plus in attendance at Oriel Park.
However, both clubs coming from formidable seasons, as
the side from the NIFL having a wondrous run in league play and moving up the table
slowly but for a team that almost made history in the European qualifiers.
As David Healey and his Blues almost made it by entering
the stages group of the Europa League and denied such feat by away goal by FK Qarabağ
at Azersun Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Contrary to a team winning the league and winning run in tournaments
coming to an end in the FAI Cup recently against the Shamrock Rovers, coming to
this second leg both sides were even.
What can you ask a club that almost won it all, by
winning the league trophy, EA Sports Cup and President’s Cup and today’s feat
taking a total of a foursome of trophies to the halls of Oriel Park.
In addition to seeing prize money of €50,000
in prize money by winning this first-ever all-island tournament in its inaugural
match, not bad of a season for Vinnie Perth and company.
The goal-fest started in the minute 6’ when Georgie Kelly
opened the score for the Town and breaking the deadlock, no later came Brian Gartland
16’ to give Dundalk a commanding lead with this cushion goal.
Still, the Jamie McGrath came forward and sealing it with
another score in the 34’, by halftime the aggregate score was in favor with a
4-1 lead by DFC and with the hopes of a Blues turnaround and a more contested second
half.
Unfortunately, Robbie Benson playing his last game as a
Lilywhite as he is to become a Pat, the lad scored in the 64’, followed by Georgie Kelly's second goal in the 75’ for a brace and Patrick Hoban sealing the rout in
the 85’.
What a way to close the season and with the prospects of
an all-island competition, maybe one day we can have an all-island league, but for
now hail to the newly crowned champions Dundalk.
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