Leo Gaxha's double either side of a Seán Keogh strike saw Dundalk finally see off Wexford FC at Oriel Park to extend their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division table to five points.
Ciarán Kilduff’s side found it difficult to break down their opponents for much of the game, with goalkeeper Paul Martin in inspired form.
However, two goals inside three minutes from Gaxha and Keogh opened the floodgates as the Louth side clinched their sixth win from the opening seven matches – one more than they managed in the whole of last season.
It was no more than the Lilywhites deserved having bossed proceedings against Stephen Elliott’s side from the off and they managed to extend their lead in the process with second placed Cobh Ramblers going down 2-1 away to Bray Wanderers.
The hosts dominated the opening half with Harry Groome and Daryl Horgan both having good chances from about 10 yards out inside the opening seven minutes only for both players to fail to trouble Paul Martin.
The former Waterford keeper was called into action for the first-time on 13 minutes to save from Andy Paraschiv before Eoin Kenny had a shot blocked down inside the box by Dean Larkin nine minutes later.
Martin then made a further simple save to deny Groome before making two fine stops to deny firstly Kenny on the half hour mark before keeping out Gaxha’s ball into Dean Ebbe with an outstretched right leg on 39 minutes.
The keeper then spared Larkin’s blushes two minutes later when his ball across the box cannoned off Horgan, requiring a save to deny Dundalk what would have been the most fortuitous of leads.
It would be four minutes into the second half before Wexford registered their first shot on target with Ryan Kelly being denied by Peter Cherrie after finding space on the left.
Dundalk then had another big chance of their own on 51 minutes when Horgan crossed for Gaxha, who couldn’t direct his effort on target from about four yards out under pressure from Martin.
Five minutes later Gaxha had another effort from range which Martin spilled but managed to gather before Kenny could pounce on the rebound.
The Kilkenny-born goalkeeper then made two saves in quick succession from Horgan before the breakthrough finally arrived on 66 minutes when Gaxha weaved his way in from the left onto his right foot before curling a shot past Martin to the bottom right hand corner.
That opened the floodgates as the Lilywhites doubled their lead three minutes later with Keogh adding a superb second as he collected Sean McHale’s ball out of defence before beating Darragh Dunne on the left and blasting high to the net at Martin’s near post.
The third then arrived on 78 minutes with Gaxha tapping in from close range after Horgan’s cross from the left on the break had taken Martin out of the game.
There were several other chances for the home side after that but they ran out comfortable winners in the end with what was their most composed display of the campaign to date.
Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Aodh Dervin, Vinnie Leonard, Sean McHale, Sean Keogh; Harry Groome, Andy Paraschiv (Shane Tracey 76); Leo Gaxha (Muhammad Haris 88), Eoin Kenny, Daryl Horgan; Dean Ebbe (Gbemi Arubi 76).
Wexford FC: Paul Martin; Darragh Dunne (Mark Imiren 70), Josh Lyons, Dean Larkin, Robbie McCourt, James Crawford; Calum Flynn, Kaylem Harnett, Zayd Abada, Ryan Kelly (Conor Levingston); Mikie Rowe.
Referee: Declan Toland.
Dundalk's nearest challengers Cobh Ramblers lost ground as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign with Bray Wanderers snatching the win with a penalty deep into injury-time.
After a goalless first half, Billy O'Neill's 53rd-minute free-kick crossed the line after cannoning off the woodwork, but that lead lasted less than 10 minutes when Cian Coleman levelled matters.
It looked set to be a share of the spoils at the Carlisle Grounds, but in time added on, Rhys Knight was fouled in the area with Max Murphy securing a dramatic win for the hosts.
There was a late winner at Athlone Town Stadium where Finn Harps' Gavin Gilmore's 88th-minute goal was the difference between the sides. The away win sees Harps join Athlone Town on seven points.
The night's other game, UCD moved off the foot of the table with a 1-0 win away to Kerry FC.
The only goal of the game arrived in the 55th minute at Mounthawk Park when Brian McManus found the back of the net.
The Students claimed their first win of the season despite finishing the game with 10 men when Eanna Clancy was dismissed in injury-time.
