Dundalk were officially crowned SSE Airtricity League champions with captain Stephen O’Donnell lifting the trophy for the third year on the trot following their 4-1 win over Galway United.
The champions produced another masterclass in attacking football in the opening 45 minutes, taking a three goal lead in at the break.
Galway pulled one back after the break through Ryan Connolly but Ciaran Kilduff had the final say in stoppage time, his goal putting the cap on The Lilywhites’ 12th title winning campaign with Stephen Kenny’s side finishing seven points ahead of Cork City.
With Thursday’s Europa League game against Zenit St Petersburg in Russia and the FAI Cup final against Cork City on the horizon, Kenny was handed a major boost with the return of his captain, Stephen O’Donnell, from a hamstring injury.
Daryl Horgan, another Galway native in the Dundalk team, also started with many wondering if it was his final appearance at Oriel Park.
The Tribesmen came to the east coast looking for their first win at Oriel Park since 2005. Under former manager Tommy Dunne Galway beat Dundalk in the previous meeting between the sides on August 5 but they have endured a dismal run since, winning just twice.
A move for Ian McParland to take over from Dunne fell through earlier in the week so Leo Tierney was again charged with selecting the team.
Dundalk went in 3-0 up at the break but things may have turned out differently had the visitors put away the first clear cut opening of the game in the ninth minute.
Connolly’s pass sliced the Dundalk back four open but Gabriel Sava made a fine stop to get down and stop Padraic Cunningham’s effort, although the striker will feel he should have buried the opportunity.
Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn was called into action three minutes later touching a fierce, swerving David McMillan piledriver onto his crossbar.
There was nothing he could do to prevent the opener 60 seconds later. Ciaran Kilduff’s lovely little flick found former Rangers player Dean Shiels in space and he buried his effort inside Winn’s right hand post.
Winn got his sizeable frame down well to deny McMillan shortly after as Dundalk pushed for a second goal but he blotted his copybook badly in the 21st minute.
Former Galway defender Paddy Barrett ventured forward and let fly from close to 35-yards. It looked like food and drink for Winn but he let the ball slip from his grasp and it rolled across the line and into into the net.
Stephen Folan almost pulled one back as the rain started to fall heavily at Oriel Park but his header was deflected just past the upright.
The home supporters were celebrating again in the 28th minute when Robbie Benson steered an effort past Winn but a raised flag from the assistant saw it ruled out.
Benson then picked the pocket of Paul Sinnott and drove towards goal but he opted to unselfishly try and square it for Kilduff with just Winn to beat and the chance went away.
Dundalk continued to plough forward and goal number three arrived in the 37th minute. Benson was again involved, playing a neat one-two with Shiels who lifted a beautiful finish over the exposed Winn.
Galway pulled one back in the 55th minute when Ryan Connolly forced home at his second attempt after Sava did brilliantly to save his initial effort but it failed to dampen the party and Kilduff made it 4-1 before O’Donnell lifted the trophy for the third season on the trot amidst wild scenes at the border venue.
Dundalk: Gabriel Sava; Sean Gannon, Andy Boyle, Paddy Barrett, Dane Massey; Robbie Benson (Ciaran O’Connor 74), Stephen O’Donnell (Brian Gartland 63); David McMillan, Dean Shiels (Georgie Poynton 67), Daryl Horgan; Ciaran Kilduff.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Killian Cantwell, Armin Aganovic, Stephen Folan, Colm Horgan; Gary Shanahan (Jesse Devers 78), Alex Byrne, Ryan Connolly, Paul Sinnott (Conor Melody 58), Kevin Devaney; Padraic Cunningham (Vinny Faherty 58).
Referee: Derek Tomney.
