DUNDALK strolled into the second round of the FAI Harp Lager Cup with a comfortable win over Leinster League side Whitehall at Oriel Park last night.

This game was as good as over after seven minutes, by which time Dundalk were three goals up.

The visitors were shattered as early as the second minute when their goalkeeper, Alan O'Sullivan, gave away a soft goal. Sullivan had made a mistake when failing to collect a throw in after only 80 seconds, allowing Brendan Markey in for the easiest of scores.

A minute later, Dundalk were two up following the best goal of the game - a Joe Gallen header from a Joe Hanrahan cross from the left. Brian Byrne put the result beyond doubt when he scored in the seventh minute and then in the 16th minute, Gallen scored Dundalk's fourth, once more with his head.

Whitehall's troubles were compounded in the 32nd minute when striker Martin Murphy got his marching orders for a wild lunge at Dundalk keeper Les Fridge.

It looked as if there was going to be a record score in the match when Gallen added his third - and Dundalk's fifth - in the 35th minute from another Hanrahan cross.

The second half, however proved a complete anti climax as Dundalk held plenty of possession, but failed to score.

The visitors got a consolation score in the 86th minute. Damien Doyle took advantage of a mistake by Mick Doohan to gain possession and shoot home off the foot of a post.

Dundalk's Raymond Campbell was the second player to be sent off in the game. He was shown a red card in the 73rd minute, although he was not booked earlier.

. Glasgow Rangers dropped two championship points at Kilmarnock last night where they drew 1-1. Paul Gascoigne scored after 77 minutes to cancel out a superb opener by Kilmarnock's Colin McKee.

Rangers are nine points clear at the top, but Celtic can cut the gap to six in a fortnight's time if they win their game in hand at Dunfermline.