Galway United 2-4 Dundalk
Dundalk stretched their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division to nine points following a dramatic win over Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Richie Towell's sweet 35th-minute free-kick gave Dundalk a deserved advantage as the Lilywhites, prompted by Stephen O'Donnell, controlled the opening period.
Thirteen minutes after the restart Dundalk scored again when Dane Massey headed home a Darren Meenan corner.
Towell thumped a third through a cluster of bodies in the 67th minute, but Galway replied on 74 when Enda Curran struck his 10th of the campaign from a free-kick.
Galway substitute Padraic Cunningham gave Galway further hope with an 86th-minute goal, but Dundalk held on as John Mountney's injury-time goal sealed the deal.
Passing and probing early on, Dundalk caused Galway plenty of bother as O'Donnell, Towell, and Ronan Finn were all prominent in the centre of the park.
O'Donnell controlled the tone and tempo of the first quarter; Dundalk were denied by a brilliant Conor Winn save in the seventh minute.
Darren Meenan wriggled clear on the right before delivering a crisp cross, which found David McMillan at the back stick.
McMillan's header was firm, but Winn did well to keep Galway on terms with a splendid reflex stop as the Tribesmen survived a significant scare.
In the 13th minute, Winn had to be alert again as another Meenan cross was met by an Andy Boyle header in the area.
Galway, though, had an opportunity themselves in the 17th minute as a Curran header forced Gary Rogers to make a save.
Tommy Dunne's Tribesmen were resilient and Winn got down low to gather a McMillan attempt in the 29th minute.
Winn was unable to prevent Dundalk hitting the front six minutes later as Towell struck a delightful free-kick into the top corner.
On the stroke of half-time Connolly's clever pass released Jake Keegan, but the native New Yorker dragged a right footed attempt narrowly wide.
Galway's failure to deal with set pieces has been a constant issue throughout the campaign and Dundalk bagged again in the 58th minute as Massey connected with a Meenan corner.
The influential Towell volleyed Dundalk's third in the 67th minute, but Galway trimmed the deficit on 74.
Substitute Cunningham was fouled by Paddy Barrett and Curran scored from the resultant free-kick.
Cunningham then speed clear to score in the 86th minute. Galway were admirably spirited, but Dundalk's Rogers made a remarkable save to deny another replacement Gary Shanahan.
Then Dundalk counter-attacked beautifully in stoppage-time as Mountney capped the Lilywhites' success.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walsh, Marc Ludden (Killian Cantwell, 81); Jake Keegan, Alex Byrne, David O’Leary (Padraic Cunningham, 62), Kevin Garcia (Gary Shanahan, 56); Ryan Connolly; Enda Curran.
Subs not used: Ger Hanley, Jason Molloy, Cormac Raftery, Conor Barry.
Dundalk: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle (Paddy Barrett, 72), Dane Massey; Darren Meenan, Stephen O’Donnell, Ronan Finn (Chris Shields, 76), Richie Towell, Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (John Mountney, 85).
Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Kurtis Byrne, Shane Grimes, Jake Kelly.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton (Clare).
