First-half goals from Barry Coffey and Samuel Bellis set Cobh Ramblers up for a comfortable 2-1 victory over Athlone Town at St Colman's Park.
Mick McDermott was out for a response from his players after last week’s defeat to Dundalk at Oriel Park and the coach got it, despite Kyle O’Connor pulling one back late on with an expertly taken free-kick.
Ramblers remain four points behind Ciarán Kilduff’s side after this result, combined with the Lilywhites victory over Kerry FC at Mouthawk Park.
Athlone Town were in a different situation, with the club under a microscope on Friday following the announced takeover by Nick Giannotti through his company Redball Energy.
Cobh had no interest in wider narratives. They were aggressive from the off and with that came a charging run by Luka Le Bervet that ended with a Noe Baba foul in the 4th minute.
Coffey took the resulting penalty and the midfielder got his 15th goal of the season from the spot.
Athlone Town only created one real chance in a bid to get back in the game, and Daniel McKenna kicked that straight into the hands of Timothy Martin.
The hosts were unfazed as they were in firm control of the pace of the game, something largely down to the work done by Le Bervet and Bellis in wide positions.
Athlone were often muted in attack, but they still managed to set up Billy Gilmore for a close range shot in the 25th minute after a Kyle O’Connor corner went to the midfielder.
Cobh survived through the finest of margins and they responded by doubling their lead through Bellis.
That came from Brendeán Frahill heading on a corner at the back-post for Waterford native Shane Griffin, who set the forward up for a half-volley on the half hour mark.
There was no change in tempo after the restart, even with Athlone probing and looking for a way back into the game.
Tetteh did carve out an opening, and his right footed effort went narrowly wide at the far post.
Athlone had to wait for their next real chance, and that was Kyle O’Connor’s stunning free-kick in the 80th minute.
That set things up for a big finish, that ultimately never came as Cobh easily saw out the win.
The only downside on the night for the home side was an injury forcing Coffey off injury time, with Jason Abbott taking the goalscorer’s place.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Luka Le Bervet, Brendeán Frahill, John O’Donovan, Jonas Hakkinen, Shane Griffin, Niall O’Keeffe (Dale Holland 72), Shane Griffin Samuel Bellis (Rhys Gourdie 82), Barry Coffey (Jason Abbott 90), Cian Murphy (Matthew Whelan 72).
Athlone Town: Matthew Connor; Oisin Duffy, Noe Baba, Dylan Hand, Kyle O’Connor, Daniel McKenna (Martin Scally 67), Oisin Duffy, Billy Gilmore (Aaron Connolly 67), Gideon Tetteh, William Smith, Dean Williams.
Referee: Declan Toland
Struggling Kerry put up brave resistance to table-toppers Dundalk before eventually succumbing to a 4-0 defeat.
Harry Groome had the only goal of the game before Eoin Kenny doubled the visitors' lead on the hour mark.
Keith Ward and Andy Paraschiv put a better look on the scoreline in injury-time to ensure a four-point gap remains to second-placed Cobh.
Bray Wanderers consolidated third place with a 1-0 win over Wexford secured by Cian Curtis' 28th-minute strike.
Finn Harps and Longford United played out a goalless draw at Finn Park, ensuring the hosts remain a point (23) and a place (seventh) above the visitors.
An 84th-minute goal from Sean Brennan ensured UCD claimed a share of the spoils at home to Treaty United after the Limerick side took the lead through a Lee Devitt goal six minutes after the resumption.
The Students played the entire second half with 10 men after the dismissal of Killian Cailloce with a straight red card.
