Dundalk maintained their two-point lead at the top of the First Division courtesy of an emphatic 3-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
Three first-half goals, from Daryl Horgan, Dean Ebbe and Eoin Kenny saw the Lilywhites to a comprehensive victory to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Dundalk led within ten minutes as Horgan nipped in front of Max Murphy to capitalise on a slip and slotted home.
The home side had gone close inside three minutes as Kilian Cantwell's header was scrambled clear but that was as good as it got for the home crowd in front of a sizeable travelling pack.
Cantwell managed to turn a Horgan cross over his own bar but could do nothing to prevent Keith Ward’s corner being steered home by Ebbe as Dundalk led 2-0 inside 14 minutes.
Ciarán Kilduff’s visitors kept the pressure on and Cian Curtis was forced to head over his own crossbar before Jamie Duggan nicked the ball off Ebbe’s toe.
The game was finished as a contest before the half hour as Seán Keogh headed across goal for Kenny - son of St Pat’s boss Stephen - who got the ball out of his feet, swivelled and finished coolly.
Duggan blocked from full-back Aodh Dervin after good work down the right before Keith Ward tested Seagulls stopper Jimmy Corcoran and Kenny shot over from 25 yards.
The 1,650-strong crowd was kept waiting 20 minutes for the restart as the officials examined the nets but the sting had already been taken out of the match.
Ebbe was denied at close range before Ward flicked wide while Paul Murphy sliced a shot wide for the home side in an uneventful spell.
Horgan could have made it 4-0 when Corcoran dropped a corner into his path, while Corcoran again denied Ebbe twice in quick succession.
Bray notched a consolation in injury time as Max Murphy finished from the spot but it was too little too late for the Seagulls, who drop to sixth in the table.
Cobh Ramblers keep the pressure on Dundalk at the top but they had to come from behind to beat Finn Harps at Finn Park.
Patrick Ferry gave the hosts the lead after just seven minutes but Sam Bellis levelled for Ramblers 20 minutes later before Brian Murphy's goal secured the points nine minutes from time.
Wexford sit in third place in the table tonight after they claimed a 1-0 win away to Treaty United, but they had to do it the hard way.
With the sides level at 0-0, Wexford were reduced to ten men on 83 minutes when Zayd Adaba say red for a second yellow card. Despite losing a player, it was the visitors who came out on top as Mikie Rowe latched onto a long ball from the back and finished smartly deep in injury time to take the points.
Elsewhere UCD's search for their first win of the campaign continues after they lost 2-1 away to Athlone.
Declan McDaid opened the scoring for Athlone early on before Adam Verdon equalised on 55 minutes for the Students only to see Kyle Robinson snatch the win with his 70th minute goal.
Bray Wanderers: James Corcoran; Max Murphy, Kilian Cantwell, Paul Murphy, Jamie Duggan; Jordan Tallon, Cian Doyle (Rhys Knight 73), Calum Costello (Billy O’Neill 73); Guillermo Almirall (Conor Knight 66), Justin Ferizaj (Rhys Bartley 46), Cian Curtis (Danu Kinsella Bishop 66).
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Aodh Dervin, Vincent Leonard, Sean McHale, Sean Keogh (Sean Spaight 80); Harry Groome, Keith Ward (Shane Trracey 73), Andy Parashiv (Gbemi Arubi 73); Daryl Horgan, Eoin Kenny, Dean Ebbe (TJ Molloy 83).
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
