All four of our men’s academy sides were in action last weekend with our MU17 team catching the eye with a brilliant 2-1 win over Derry City which maintains their unbeaten start to the EA SPORTS LOI Academy campaign.

MU17: Dundalk FC 2-1 Derry City

Our MU17 team extended their unbeaten start to the EA SPORTS LOI Academy season with an excellent 2-1 win over Derry City at Oriel Park on Saturday.

Jack McLaughlin put the visitors in front after just three minutes but Sean Keogh levelled matters before the interval and Samuel Case struck the winner with 17 minutes to go to leave Dundalk top of their section with three wins and a draw from their opening four games.

“It was an excellent performance,” said MU17 coach Cian Maher. “After getting the equaliser through Sean, we took control of the game in the second half Sam scored an excellent goal with a left-footed finish from Jack O’Flaherty’s assist.

“Luke Milligan, who was on the bench for the first team in the Leinster Senior Cup game the night before, showed composure throughout the game and distributed the ball really well from the back while Scott Brady in midfield grew into the game and controlled the tempo of the game in the last half hour alongside Jack O’Flaherty.”

DUNDALK FC MU17: Thomas Brady, Luke Povall, Luke Mulligan, Callum Doyle Travers, Tom McLoughlin, Scott Brady, Sean Keogh, Fionn McNamara, Hugh Smith, Jack O’Flaherty, Samuel Case. Subs: Graham Dooner (GK), Ben Miller, Conall Alfred, Aaron Donnelly, Nico Lovrekovic, Cian Spaight, Aidan Russell Vargas.

Next Up: Bohemians, Oriel Park, Saturday, April 2nd, 5.30pm

MU15: Shamrock Rovers 5-2 Dundalk FC

M1U5 head coach Thomas McShane was delighted with his side’s attitude against a strong Shamrock Rovers side at Roadstone last Sunday.

Maxim Kovaleskis put Rovers in front after 15 minutes and a brace from Charles Akimrintoyo left Dundalk up against it with 35 minutes played.

Akimrintoyo completed his hat-trick before Jack Martin pulled one back from the spot and after Brody Lee added a fifth for the hosts, Fahd Nii-Monney found his name on the scoresheet in the dying stages.

“Rovers controlled the first 30 minutes and we found it hard to get out of our half,” said McShane. “To be fair, they are an impressive side packed with quality.

“We made a couple of changes and Dapo Annuniopo and Tadgh Gorman made a difference when they were introduced. Tadgh won the penalty which Jack Martin scored from and the lads dug in over the last 30-minute period.

“We lost a few through injury in the final 30 and Rovers lifted it and finished the game strongly but there were lots of positives to take from the game, in particular Sean Spaight’s performance. He’s a U14 player and he was excellent throughout which bodes well for the season ahead.”

DUNDALK FC MU15: Nathan Keenan, Lee Casey, Karl Stenson Browne, Roan Hickey, Vincent Leonard, Jay Madigan, Fahd Nii-Monney, Liam McCabe, Oisin Smyth, Sean Spaight, Joe Smith. Subs: John Markham (GK), Jack Martin, Shay Casey, Max Halpenny, Cian Markey, Conor Patterson, Calum Woods, Alex Gaughran, Dapo Annuniopo, Tadgh Gorman.

Next Up: Drogheda United, Oriel Park, Tuesday, April 4th, 7.45pm

The Dundalk FC MU19 squad, pictured before the game with UCD

MU19: UCD 3-2 Dundalk FC

After a brilliant win over St Patrick’s Athletic the week earlier, our MU19 team was beaten away to UCD on Sunday afternoon.

After featuring for the first team in the Leinster Senior Cup tie defeat against Shelbourne on Friday night, Sean Bannon, Dualta Honney, Conor O’Gorman, and Eoin Kenny all started for Tiarnan Mulvenna’s side while Anthony Moyo came on as a substitute.

Max Mason put UCD in front before the break but after Honney equalised with 19 minutes to play, the home side restored their advantage through Matthew Alonge.

Mason’s second of the afternoon left Dundalk with it all to do and although Moyo pulled one back with 10 minutes to play, the Lilywhites slumped to their first defeat of the EA SPORTS LOI Academy season.

DUNDALK FC MU19: Sean Molloy, Jack Watters, Jake Hough, Sean Bannon, Craig Moore, Mark Leavy, Callum Bonner, Samuel Soyemi, Dualta Honney, Eoin Kenny, Conor O’Gorman. Subs: Jamie Ryan (GK), Ryan Boyle, Josh Hand, Aidan Russell Vargas, Anthony Moyo, Callum Doyle Travers, Hugh Smith, Benjamin Fagbeni.

Next Up: Bohemians, Oriel Park, Sunday, April 1st, 12pm

MU14: Dundalk FC 3-0 Bray Wanderers

Shane Grimes’ U14 side produced one of their best displays of the campaign thus far against Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park on Saturday afternoon.

Striker Hughie Martin helped himself to a brace – a penalty and a neat finish which saw him hook the ball over his head before applying a cool finish – and left-back Pauric McGuire added his name to the scoresheet with a lovely free-kick.

Next Up: Bohemians, Oscar Traynor, Dublin, Saturday, April 1st, 2pm