Dundalk 4-1 Kildare County

Dessie Baker and Robbie Farrell both picked the perfect time to hit their first goals of the season as Dundalk put their recent poor patch behind them against Kildare County at Oriel Park to move six points clear at the top of the First Division table.

John Gill's side had struggled in their last two outings, going down away to Limerick 37 before being held to a draw by Athlone Town having held a two goal lead.

They were back to their brilliant best against Kildare, however, with on loan two goal hero Baker giving a man of the match display up front alongside Farrell.

The visitors could well have been in front inside the opening minute when former Lilywhites favourite Philip Hughes got in behind the Dundalk defence but Chris Bennion was on hand to smother the effort.

The Louthmen then went close themselves on the quarter hour mark when David Cassidy had a speculative volley header over on the goal line by Baba Isaaka.

The midfielder then turned provider for the game's opening goal when his right wing cross on 21 minutes was met with a bullet-like header by Ben Whelehan who sent his effort to the top right hand corner of the net.

John Ryan's men were back on level terms just three minutes later, however, as Ciaran Kilduff's drive from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection off David Crawley to help it creep past Bennion.

The league leaders were back in front on 36 minutes, however, when Baker raced in behind the Kildare defence onto Paul Marney's through ball before lifting the ball over the advancing Charlie Treacy for his first goal for the club.

The home side went close to adding to their advantage three minutes after the restart when David O'Connor broke into the box but the winger could only find the side netting with his effort.

The third goal did arrive soon after on 52 minutes, however, with Farrell bundling the ball to the net from close range after goalkeeper Treacy spilled Jamie Duffy's cross after tangling with Kilduff.

A fourth then followed six minutes later with Baker tapping home his second from close range after Paul Shiels' cross was headed back across the face of goal by Farrell.

Baker could well have completed his hat trick on 69 minutes but blazed his effort well over after getting in behind the County defence.

Dundalk: Bennion; Flanagan (Kelly, 70 mins), Marney, Whelehan, Crawley (Grimes, 70 mins); Duffy, Shiels, Cassidy, O'Connor; Farrell (Mulvenna, 64 mins), Baker.

Kildare County: Treacy; Farrell, Walsh, O'Connell (Kavanagh, 61 mins), Isaaka; Vickery, Fortune, Slattery, Brady (Powderly, 82 mins), Hughes (Bowers, 57 mins), Kilduff.

Referee: Rob Rogers