Two goals from home debutant Robbie Martin and another from David Cassidy helped promotion favourites Dundalk get their First Division title bid up and running against neighbours Monaghan United at Oriel Park.
Having drawn with Shelbourne in their opening round match, John Gill’s side were gifted the opener after just eight minutes when goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy’s kick-out struck Martin and rebounded into the empty net.
The home side should have doubled their advantage on 24 minutes when Martin blazed over from close range after Robbie Farrell had a header parried clear by Kennedy.
However, the second goal did arrive just before the break when Farrell’s cross from the right was rifled home by Cassidy.
The second half was largely a dull affair, although Monaghan did go close to pulling goals back through Ian Malone and substitute Eoin Langan.
Dundalk made sure of the win three minutes from time, however, when Martin scored his second of the evening when he beat the offside trap to rifle an unstoppable shot past Kennedy.
Dundalk: Shanahan; Flanagan, Crawley, Ryan, Grimes; Duffy, Cassidy, Shiels (Marney, 70 mins), O’Connor (Smyth, 78 mins); Martin, Farrell (Vaughan, 62 mins).
Monaghan Utd: Kennedy; Whelan, Mooney, Malone, Williamson; Meenan, Maher (McCrossan, 68 mins), Tierney, Hand (Byrne, half-time); Collins, Sheppard (Langan, 62 mins).
Referee: M Gough (Limerick).
