Galway United claimed their first Premier Division win since 2017 as first half goals from Ed McCarthy and Aodh Dervin saw them put Dundalk to the sword at Oriel Park.
After six seasons in the First Division, they have already equalled their number of away wins from that relegation campaign having outclassed and outfought Dundalk for long periods of this game.
Galway had only ever won once in their history in the top flight at Oriel Park back in March 1987 but this victory will give John Caulfield’s side confidence that they can compete at his level having dominated the First Division last season.
They frustrated Stephen O’Donnell’s side for long periods with the Lilywhites looking a shadow of the side which had claimed a point away to champions Shamrock Rovers on the opening night.
While Galway could equally have added to their tally to match last September’s 4-0 FAI Cup quarter-final humbling of the Louth men at Eamonn Deacy Park, this was a deserved victory following on from their narrow opening day defeat at home to St Patrick’s Athletic.
The Tribesmen are back and, on this evidence, more than capable of coping with life in the top tier.
The first chance fell the home side’s way on seven minutes when Robbie Benson burst through before getting a shot away after an awkward bounce had deceived Rob Slevin.
Two minutes later the visitors had their first opening when Colm Horgan’s ball over the top played Karl O’Sullivan in behind but Mayowa Animasahun did well to get back to ensure his effort in the end was tamely at George Shelvey.
Galway then hit the front in the 10th minute with what was a brilliant worked goal. Dervin’s ball split the Dundalk defence by playing David Hurley in on the right with his cross then bundled in at the back post by the inrushing McCarthy.
The Louth men were then very fortunate not to fall two behind on 25 minutes as a short corner was delivered in at almost snail pace by Hurley, with the ball beating everyone before coming off the inside of the post and rolling across the line into the grateful arms of Shelvey.
The second would arrive on the half hour mark as Regan Donelon’s cross from deep on the left picked out the inrushing Dervin, who glanced a brilliant header to the top right hand corner to leave the large travelling support in dreamland.
Dundalk did up their game in the closing stages of the half and finally fashioned a good opening on 40 minutes when Benson slipped Daryl Horgan in but he was denied by Brendan Clarke.
Scott High then had an effort blocked by Killian Brouder two minutes later before Clarke came to his side’s rescue again when he kept out what would have been an own goal by Colm Horgan after a dangerous cross from the right by Archie Davies had come off the full back.
McCarthy then fired just wide from 25 yards in stoppage time as the Tribesmen went off comfortably ahead at the break.
It was the visitors who were first to threaten after the restart with O’Sullivan breaking through again on 53 minutes only to be denied by Shelvey.
It took Dundalk until the hour mark to threaten a revival when Horgan did well on the right to get a cross away but substitute Cameron Elliott’s downward header was well saved by Clarke.
The Lilywhites then began to exert some pressure with Benson firing over, Elliott heading wide and debutant Ciaran McGuckin fluffing his lines with two good chances from close range.
Al-Amin Kazeem then fired into the side-netting with his first touch after replacing goalscorer Dervin on 73 minutes before O’Sullivan flashed a shot just wide from wide on the right two minutes later.
Vincent Borden then had a big chance to kill the game on 78 minutes after being played in on the left but his effort flashed across goal and well wide in the end.
Paul Doyle did go close to a consolation for the home side in stoppage time but his low shot was brilliantly kept out by Clarke down low to his right.
Dundalk: George Shelvey; Archie Davies, Mayowa Animasahun (Paul Doyle 77), Andy Boyle, Jamie Walker; Zak Bradshaw (Cameron Elliott HT), Scott High; Ryan O’Kane (Sam Durrant 65), Robbie Benson (Robbie Mahon 77), Daryl Horgan; Jamie Gullan (Ciaran McGuckin 65).
Galway Utd: Brendan Clarke, Colm Horgan, Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Regan Donelon; Vincent Borden, Conor McCormack; Aodh Dervin (Al-Amin Kazeem 73), Karl O’Sullivan (Tom Costello 94), David Hurley (Patrick Hickey 83); Ed McCarthy (Leo Gaxha 94).
Referee: Gavin Colfer (Wicklow).
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