Dundalk’s hopes of a top-four finish are still alive thanks to a 3-0 win over Galway United at Oriel Park.
Bosnian striker Fahrudin Kuduzovic took his season's tally to nine with a hat-trick to leave Galway in serious trouble at the bottom end of the table.
A quiet opening saw chances at a premium. In form Dundalk striker Matthew Tipton glanced a Daniel Kearns free kick just wide of the post in the 8th minute.
Sean Connor was able to welcome back experienced midfielder Stephen O'Donnell. The Tribesmen's number eight had their first strike on goal, seeing a free-kick blocked by Garry Breen.
A flowing move in the 18th minute almost resulted in the opening goal. Kearns, Kuduzovic and Tom Miller combined well with a flurry of quick passes, setting up Dean Bennett for a shot that whistled wide from 20-yards.
Dundalk sparked into life just after the half hour and should have taken a lead into the break. Kearns and Kuduzovic both saw efforts cleared off the line by Stephen Walsh after a game of pinball in the Galway box.
Tipton was denied an eighth goal in nine games when his effort on the turn was brilliantly saved by Darragh Geraghty but the Galway 'keeper could do nothing to stop Wayne Boswell’s thumping header in the 44th minute. Luckily for the westerners, the ball crashed off the bar.
Kuduzovic got Dundalk off to a perfect start in the second-half when he turned home from Tom Miller's long throw. Miller was again the provider in the 70th minute. The throw in came from the other side but the result was the same as Kuduzovic turned home.
Goal number three arrived with 88 minutes on the clock. Steven Lennon did well to get away on the right and his cut back was clinically swept home by Kuduzovic.
Dundalk: 1 Peter Cherrie; 12 Simon Madden, 5 Garry Breen, 6 Liam Burns (captain) (2 Shaun Kelly, 35 mins), 3 Wayne Hatswell; 21 Daniel Kearns, 14 Dean Bennett (7 Stephen Maher, 65 mins), 4 Tom Miller, 11 Ross Gaynor; 9 Fahrudin Kuduzovic, 10 Matthew Tipton (20 Steven Lennon, 81 mins).
Subs not used: 16 Stephen McDonnell,, 22 Paul Murphy (GK).
Booked: Matthew Tipton, 59 mins.
Galway United: 1 Darragh Geraghty; 15 Tom King (19 Ger Cheevers, 86 mins), 20 Paul Sinnott, 14 Rhys Mennell, 17 Stephen Walsh; 7 Johnathon Keane; 16 Gary Curran, 8 Stephen O'Donnell, 11 Derek O'Brien; 9 Jason Molloy (12 Evan Preston Kelly, 65 mins), 10 Karl Sheppard.
Subs not used: 2 David Sheppard, 18 Shane Keogh, 26 Conor Winn (GK).
Booked: Paul Sinnott, 20 mins; Jason Molloy, 49 mins.
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin).
