Dundalk 2-0 Shamrock Rovers
Ronan Finn and Sean Gannon came back to haunt Shamrock Rovers as Dundalk took another huge step towards retaining their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title with a 2-0 win over the Hoops at Oriel Park.
Despite coming into the game 12 points behind Dundalk, Pat Fenlon’s men still had hopes of mounting a late title charge, but goals from the duo - who both won the title with the Hoops in 2011 - were enough to give Stephen Kenny’s champions a hugely important three points.
With just seven games to play, the Lilywhites are eight points clear of second placed Cork City and are firmly on course to retain their league crown for the first time in the club’s history.
The team sheets threw up little in the way of surprises.
Dundalk, as has been the case during Kenny’s tenure, named a settled team yet again, with John Mountney retaining his place ahead of Darren Meenan on the right.
Rovers, who could only muster a point from their visit to Sligo on Saturday night, made just one change, with Mikey Drennan returning from suspension to replace former Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff, who dropped to the bench.
Dundalk bossed the opening period and they almost drew first blood after just two minutes.
Daryl Horgan’s curling free-kick from the right picked out Brian Gartland but Barry Murphy got a strong hand on his forceful header. Dane Massey turned the loose ball into the Rovers net but the assistant’s flag had already been raised.
Kenny’s side maintained a high-tempo start and they deservedly pulled ahead in the 16th minute with a move started and finished by Finn. The 27-year-old dispossessed Gary McCabe in the midfield, played the ball forward to David McMillan and then collected the return, letting the ball roll across his body before lashing a fine right-footed drive past Murphy from 18 yards.
The home side continued to ask questions and Murphy gathered well after John Mountney laid the ball off for Richie Towell to let fly from 20 yards.
Rovers eventually took control as the game approached the half-hour mark and they went close to drawing level on three occasions before the break.
They were denied an equaliser with their first meaningful effort on goal in the 28th minute when Gary Rogers produced a wonderful save to deny Brandon Miele’s equally impressive half-volley.
The Dundalk goalkeeper then diverted a Gavin Brennan effort over the top, the chance arriving after Gartland had stopped Danny North in his tracks with a well-timed tackle just outside the penalty area.
Rogers, though, was a bystander in the 40th minute as the Meath man was relieved to see Drennan’s shot from distance skid off Gartland’s head and fly just wide of the post.
Rovers continued to apply pressure to the Dundalk back four after the interval, forcing three corners in succession. The last of those, in the 59th minute, saw Luke Byrne head over despite rising well.
Finn departed as Kenny introduced Chris Shields in a bid to take a grip of the middle of the park, but it was another substitute, Darren Meenan, who played a major part in the 68th-minute goal that could go a long way to securing Dundalk their 11th league title.
The winger had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he fed David McMillan from midfield. He slipped Sean Gannon in on the right and the full-back’s finish was just as good as his surging run, shooting across Murphy to send the Oriel Park crowd into raptures.
Dundalk FC: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Stephen O’Donnell; John Mountney (Darren Meenan 66), Ronan Finn (Chris Shields 62), Daryl Horgan; David McMillan (Ciaran Kilduff 74)
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, David Webster, Conor Kenna, Luke Byrne; Gavin Brennan, Gary McCabe (Patrick Cregg 75), Max Blanchard (Ryan Brennan 85), Brandon Miele (Gareth McCaffrey 75); Danny North, Mikey Drennan
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Attendance: 3,956
