Dundalk Ebbe Brace Seals Convincing Win Over Longford, Extends First Division Lead
Ardee News and Sport – Dundalk Ebbe Brace Seals Convincing Win Over Longford, Extends First Division Lead
Dundalk emphatically returned to winning ways on Saturday night, overcoming a stubborn Longford Town side with a dominant 3-0 victory at Bishopsgate. A brace from striker Dean Ebbe, coupled with a late strike from Andy Paraschiv, ensured the Lilywhites re-established their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity First Division table after a couple of frustrating draws over the Easter weekend.
Despite their lowly league position, Longford Town proved a resolute opponent for much of the first half, frustrating the league leaders’ attempts to break the deadlock. While Dundalk threatened through Eoin Kenny and Leo Gaxha, the home side’s defence held firm, keeping Ciarán Kilduff’s charges at bay.
However, the interval brought a significant shift in tempo and intent from Dundalk. Emerging with renewed purpose, the Lilywhites deservedly took the lead ten minutes into the second half. A well-worked move saw the ball fall to Dean Ebbe in the box, and the striker made no mistake, finishing clinically from close range to put Dundalk ahead.
The goal visibly lifted Dundalk’s confidence, and just seven minutes later, Ebbe doubled his tally and Dundalk’s advantage. Ending a scoring drought since the reverse fixture against Longford on March 21st, Ebbe latched onto an exquisite through-ball from Andy Paraschiv and unleashed a fine first-time finish past the Longford goalkeeper for his sixth goal of the season.
With the game heading towards its conclusion, Paraschiv capped off an impressive second-half performance for Dundalk by adding his name to the scoresheet. In the 87th minute, the attacker netted his first league goal of the season, putting the seal on a convincing 3-0 victory for the visitors.
The comfortable win sees Dundalk extend their lead at the summit of the First Division to three points over second-placed Bray Wanderers, providing a welcome boost after consecutive stalemates. Speaking after the match, a satisfied Dundalk manager, Ciarán Kilduff, praised his team’s second-half display and their determination to secure all three points.
Looking ahead, Dundalk face another trip to the midlands next Friday evening as they take on Athlone Town, aiming to build on this positive result and further solidify their position at the top of the table. The Lilywhites will be hoping that Ebbe’s return to scoring form and Paraschiv’s contribution will provide the momentum needed to maintain their promotion push.
