Kearns hat-trick sets Dundalk on their way

Soccer – Setanta Sports Cup Round-up: There were goals galore at Windsor Park as Daniel Kearns scored a hat-trick for Dundalk…

Soccer – Setanta Sports Cup Round-up:There were goals galore at Windsor Park as Daniel Kearns scored a hat-trick for Dundalk away to Linfield while UCD and Lisburn Distillery played out a goalless draw in tonight's Setanta Sports Cup action.

Kearns was the main orchestrator in Dundalk’s 5-3 win over their Irish League counterparts. The player who was embroiled in an international tug-of-war between the FAI and IFA for his services was in flying form in Belfast. (He opted for the Republic and has since lined out at underage level).

The 19-year-old, released from West Ham last season, completed his hat-trick in injury time, while Mark Quigley scored the other two goals for the visitors.

Peter Thompson netted the Blues’ opener from the penalty spot after 43 minutes to level matters after Kearns’ opener on the half hour mark.

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Quigley restored the lead on 54 minutes with Robert Garrett getting the second after Thompson missed a second penalty but his team mate followed up and found the net.

Substitute Curtis Allen pulled one back for Linfield in the 81st minute but Kearns put the icing on the cake with a superb individual effort in stoppage time.

At Dalymount Park it was the two corresponding goalkeepers who stole the show as UCD and Lisburn Distillery played out a scoreless draw.

Billy Brennan and Ger Barron were on top of their game with the northern visitors surely the happier of the two sides heading into the second leg at home.

Brennan showed great agility to deny Graham Rusk, who was again denied five minutes before half-time.

At the other end Barron was called into action when Scott Davidson had a chance on goal. In the second half the Distillery keeper was forced into a number of saves from veteran Glenn Ferguson, who was a constant threat

The students could have won it with 20 minutes to go but yet again Rusk was denied.

Setanta Sports Cup First round 1st leg

Linfield 3 (Thompson pen 43, Garrett 63, Allen 81)
Dundalk 5 (Kearns 31, 67, 90+2; Quigley 54,75)

UCD 0
Lisburn Distillery 0