Dundalk brushed past the Champions Sligo Rovers with a fairly comfortable 2-0 win in Oriel park infornt of a packed house of over 3,000 spectators.
It was a quick start to the game and Sligo started off the brighter side and they had tehir first chances after six minutess when Joey Ndo took a quick free kick set up Alan Keane who crossed for Gavin Peers who headed over the bar.
Dundalk were beginning to have a spell of momentum and through Darren Meenan, Dundalk tested the Sligo keeper with some testing crosses. You could feel something was going to happen soon as Dundalk looked dangerous in attack.
On the quarter of an hour gone Kurtis Byrne broke forward and sent it on to Richie Towell whom then headed it into the box for Pat Hoban whom with his back to goal quickly turned with an overhead kick to the top corner leaving Rogers with no chance in the Sligo goal.
The goal did seem to give Sligo that kick they needed and they put the home side under some significant pressure until half time. The impressive Djillalli for Sligo took advantage of some sloppy play from Mark Rossiter and he broke through and took a shot on goal,however it went inches wide and didn't trouble Peter Cherrie too much. Djillalli continued to trouble Dundalk and his cross met Gavin Peers who hit the bar with a header.
Dundalk went in half time 1 nil up.
Dundalk came out all guns blazing and were very impressive. Stephen O'Donnell had a chance but for his shot being blocked and Dane Masseys cross was so close to been met by Kurtis Byrne at the back post.
Sligo goalkeeper Rogers had to make agood save from Ricghie Towell as he took a blast at goal and through the following corner Brian Gartland’s header was deflected wide. From that corner, Meenan’s cross causes even more trouble with Rogers unable to claim and Byrne's shot was blocked and it went out for yet another corner as Dundalk continued to pile on the pressure
Eventually, Dundalks dominance was made to count as they doubled their lead when Meenan’s pin point cross found the head of substitute Chris Shields and he powered his header to the net to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Meenan, the creater yet again as he won a free kick against and sent the cross in but for Hoban to just head over.
Dundalk were fairly comfortable now and could have had a penalty when Stephen O'Donnell went tumbling down in the box but referee Neil Doyle waved play on.
Substitute Danny North had an effort from far out was deflected wide and it went out for a corner, from the corner Sligo really should have scored, with Cretaro's shot beating everyone but hitting straight off the post and Dundalk got rid of the danger.
The time was up as Dundalk recorded another impressive night this season as they keep up the pressure on league leaders Patricks Athletic.
Man of the match: Richie Towell (Dundalk)
DUNDALK: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter, Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; Darren Meenan, John Dillon(Chris Shields 51); Kurtis Byrne(John Sullivan 88), Patrick Hoban(Vinny Faherty 90).
Subs not used: Francis McCaffrey, Jordan Keegan, Francis McCaffrey, Ciaran O’Connor, Aaron Shanahan(GK)
Booked: Towell(41)
Sent off: None.
Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson, Seamus Conneely(Danny North 63); Kieran Djilali, David Cawley, Joseph Ndo, Aaron Greene, Rafaele Cretaro(Lee Lynch 81); Anthony Elding.
Subs not used: Pascal Millien, Danny Ventre, Lee Lynch, Jake Dykes, Liam Martin, Ciaran Kelly(GK)
Booked: Peers(52)
Sent off: None.
Referee: Neil Doyle
Attendance: 3,031
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