Dundalk striker Alex Williams pounced twice as Dundalk outclassed their Louth rivals Drogheda United at Oriel Park.
Ger Rowe put the Lilywhites ahead before Conor Kenna equalised with a deft header.
Drogheda were reduced to ten men when Scott Gibb was
sent off on 36 minutes and trailed at half time when Williams scored from close range.
The game was put beyond Drogheda on 57 minutes with Chris Turner penalty and a sublime second by Williams. Shane Barrett smashed a penalty over the bar before James Chambers grabbed a late consolation.
At the start of the season, these two teams were tipped for a
relegation battle, but judging on Friday night's performance, Dundalk have nothing to worry about as they ran riot against a jaded Drogheda side.
Louth derbies have proved to be fiery encounters this season and this meeting was no different as the fixture saw its third red card this season.
Debutant Scott Gibb received his marching orders for two
yellow cards, the second coming after a rash challenge on Kevin
McKinlay.
The game started with the usual ferocity of a derby fixture, but it
was all-Dundalk in the early stages, as recent signing McKinlay stamped
his authority on the game, hitting the side netting and clipping the
bar.
Just as the game was starting to lose its intensity, Ger
Rowe pounced on 18 minutes to fire the home side into a deserved lead.
Rowe latched onto a McKinlay long ball and instead of thrashing at it, he bided his time to send a crisp low strike past Skinner.
Although the Lilywhites gained an advantage, they failed to capitalise and Drogheda grew in confidence. Their persistence was rewarded as Conor Kenna beat ‘keeper Peter Cherrie to the ball and flicked in Brendan McGill’s free kick.
But just as Drogheda hauled themselves back into contention, Gibb undid all of their hard work by seeing red.
Six minutes later and the game turned as Alex Williams showed how devastating he can be in front of goal.
A neat interchange between Shaun Kelly and Michael McGowan allowed Michael Daly room on the right hand side. He pulled it back with a clever pass to Williams, who with a shrug of his shoulder, left his marker for dead and netted.
The Scottish striker wasn’t finished embarrassing the Drogheda defence as he left Skinner on the floor with a deft touch, allowing himself time to pick his spot and roll it into an empty net.
Ten minutes into the second half and the game was put beyond Drogheda as Chris Turner scored his third penalty against his Louth rivals this season.
A game of ricochet ensued in the Drogheda box as Mulvenna, Turner and Rowe both had strikes blocked but Rowe’s shot blasted off the outstretched arm of Kenna.
From 12 yards, there was no doubting the dynamic midfielder and he made sure of the three points.
Williams though was not finished in his crusade to show his scoring talent as he again made a mockery of the visitor’s defence.
He beautifully controlled a Mulvenna pass and left Drogheda’s centre halves in his wake before firing high into the net.
There was more misery in store for the visitors as Shane Barrett
blazed an 85 minute penalty over the bar, before James Chambers fired in a long-range consolation effort.
Dundalk: Cherrie; Shaun Kelly, Burns, Heary, McGowan, (McAreavey 75); Daly, Turner, Collins, (Mansaram 71) McKinlay, (Mulvenna, HT); Rowe, Williams.
Subs not used: Kelly, Bennion
Drogheda United: Skinner; Gibb, Kenna, McNally, Osbourne (Clarke 7); King, Crowley, Shiels, (Duffy 64), McGill; Barrett, Bates, (Chambers, HT)
Subs not used: Ryan, Williams
Referee: Tom Connolly (Dublin)
