Stoppage time goals from Cameron Elliott and Patrick Hoban saw Dundalk stage the most unlikely of comebacks against nine-man Cork City at Oriel Park as the Lilywhites made it four wins from four.
Cork, under the guidance of Liam Buckley following Colin Healy's recent departure, looked to be heading for a first away win of the season courtesy of Tunde Owolabi’s first half goal.
However red cards for Josh Honohan and captain Cian Coleman gave Stephen O’Donnell’s side a lifeline which they grabbed with both hands as Elliott equalised in the 94th minute before Hoban popped up with a dramatic winner three minutes later.
The home side began on top in terms of dominating possession but it was their opponents who registered the first chance of note on five minutes when Owolabi stole his way in at the left hand post to get a shot away that was saved by Nathan Shepperd at a tight angle.
The striker would have better luck when he made the breakthrough on 19 minutes. Ruairi Keating's pass slipped Owolabi in behind Wasiri Williams and he showed superb composure to round the advancing Shepperd to slot to an empty net for his fourth career goal against the Lilywhites.
Dundalk then had penalty appeals turned down by referee Damien MacGraith four minutes later when Hoban did well to get a header away from Keith Ward’s cross despite having his shirt pulled by Coleman.
Cork would then threaten again on 29 minutes when Matthew Healy’s free kick found Honohan at the back post but his downward header was well saved by Shepperd.
The Louth men looked destined to equalise four minutes later when Ryan O’Kane was released on the right by a superb ball from Connor Malley before pulling back for the inrushing Alfie Lewis inside the box who saw his effort brilliantly blocked at the expense of a corner by Kevin Custovic.
They would go close again on 37 minutes with O’Kane beating Ethon Varian on the right before crossing to Hoban whose header crashed off the underside of the crossbar.
Cork then had another opening of their own a minute before the break when Ruairi Keating got the better of Hayden Muller to the right of goal inside the box only to pull his eventual shot into the side-netting.
It took the hosts until the 58th minute to register a first save of note from Jimmy Corcoran with Archie Davies breaking forward from right back to get a shot away after a neat exchange with Ward but his effort was straight at the Meathman.
Hoban then had two bicycle kick attempts straight at Corcoran before heading wide from an O’Kane free kick on 82 minutes.
The visitors were then reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Honohan picked up a second yellow for a foul on Elliott.
With their numerical advantage, Dundalk kept pushing for the breakthrough with John Martin heading tamely into the ground from Davies angled pass on the 90 minute mark before Corcoran saved Johannes Yli-Kokko’s long range effort two minutes later.
Elliott then popped up with a superb acrobatic equaliser on 94 minutes when he steered a cross from the right to the bottom left hand corner.
Coleman then received a straight red two minutes later for a foul on Paul Doyle with Hoban stealing in in the 97th minute to slot under Corcoran from a tight angle on the left to send Oriel Park wild and keep Dundalk’s winning run going.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Hayden Muller (Cameron Elliott 67), Wasiri Williams, Darragh Leahy; Connor Malley (Daniel Kelly 76), Alfie Lewis (Paul Doyle 76); Ryan O’Kane, Keith Ward (Johannes Yli-Kokko 67), Rayhann Tulloch (John Martin 49); Patrick Hoban.
Cork City: Jimmy Corcoran; Josh Honohan, Cian Coleman, Kevin Custovic; Darragh Crowley, Barry Coffey, Matthew Healy, Joe O’Brien Whitmarsh (Aaron Bolger 76), Ethon Varian (John O’Donovan 68); Ruairi Keating, Tunde Owolabi (Cian Murphy 84).
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
