Daniel Kelly's 10th minute header gave Dundalk’s European hopes a huge boost as they got the better of Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park.
In what was a poor affair the 27-year-old popped up with the game’s only goal a minute after John Russell’s strugglers had missed a glorious opening of their own.
The result sees Stephen O’Donnell’s side move level on points with fourth-placed Derry City, who have played two games less, while they are just three points behind third placed Bohemians.
The Louth men were fortunate to win this game having put in a sluggish display. Luckily for them, Sligo were unable to capitalise although the Bit O Red will feel they should have had a penalty late in the game.
As it stands, they have now won just twice in their last 10 matches and still have work to do to avoid getting dragged into a relegation play-off scrap.
While this was far from vintage Dundalk, it was an important three points and just their third clean sheet in the league at home this season will be a welcome boost ahead of next week's FAI Cup tie away to Bray Wanderers.
It was the visitors who were first to threaten in the ninth minute. Stefan Radosavljevic’s cross wasn’t dealt with and it managed to find Pedro Martelo unmarked at the back post but the Portuguese could only head back across goal and wide, much to his frustration as he kicked the advertising hoarding behind the goal in anger at the miss in the aftermath.
That miss was to prove crucial as Dundalk took the lead at the other end a minute later. Archie Davies found space on the right to hang up a brilliant cross which Kelly headed in at the back post for his 30th goal for the club.
To their credit, the Bit O Red were the most threatening after that and they almost drew level on 26 minutes when Radosavljevic grazed the top of the crossbar with an effort from the left hand side after Martelo’s initial effort was blocked.
Lukas Browning then blazed over shortly after before a David Cawley effort deflected off Greg Sloggett and into the arms of Nathan Shepperd.
Dundalk did go close to a second in first-half stoppage time but Louie Annesley’s flick on from Ryan O’Kane’s in-swinging free kick wasn’t enough to trouble Conor Walsh.
Substitute Fabrice Hartmann went close to an equaliser for Sligo on 64 minutes when his free kick from the left almost crept in at the near post, with Shepperd having to scramble it away at the last moment at the expense of a corner.
The visitors were unlucky not to have a penalty five minutes later when Liivak went down in the box under a clumsy challenge from substitute Johannes Yli-Kokko, who had just replaced Daryl Horgan. Shepperd then had to be alert soon after to keep out a long range effort from Martelo low to his left.
Yli-Kokko almost sealed the game six minutes from the end when he curled just over from the edge of the area. The Finn then went close again with a minute to go when he raced onto John Martin’s flick only to see his scuffed effort saved low down by Walsh.
Kailin Barlow did go close to a leveller in the 96th minute when the ball dropped to him at the edge of the box but his volley was pushed away by Shepperd.
Dundalk: Nathan Shepperd; Archie Davies, Darren Brownlie, Louie Annesley, Hayden Muller (Darragh Leahy 70); Connor Malley, Greg Sloggett (Alfie Lewis 83); Daniel Kelly, Daryl Horgan (Johannes Yli-Kokko 67), Ryan O’Kane; Patrick Hoban (John Martin 83).
Sligo Rovers: Conor Walsh; Frank Liivak, John Mahon, Nando Pijnaker, Niall Morahan; Lukas Browning (Kailin Barlow 74), Greg Bolger (Reece Hutchinson 74); Johan Brannefalk (Fabrice Hartmann 59), David Cawley (Karl O’Sullivan 59), Stefan Radosavljevic; Pedro Martelo.
Referee: Adriano Reale (Kildare).
