Dundalk 0 Shelbourne 1PADDY KAVANAGH'S first half strike before a crowd of 600 was enough to secure Shelbourne win against a Dundalk side who are now eight points adrift from safety with just six games to go.

Kavanagh, who was instrumental in the Tolka Park side’s passage to the FAI Cup semi-finals last week, stepped up in the 40th minute to drive a fine right-footed effort past Peter Cherrie.

The home side’s best chance of the half arrived in the 21st minute. Griffin whipped a fantastic free-kick across the face of goal but Stephen Maher couldn’t control his effort and the ball sailed high and wide.

Some 19 minutes later the visitors were in front. Paul Byrne and David Cassidy combined well in the build up and Kavanagh controlled the ball instantly before rifling rifle the ball past Cherrie from just outside the penalty area.

Frustration spread amongst the Oriel Park faithful as Dundalk huffed and puffed in the second-half. Griffin forced another save from Bennion in the 75th minute with a trademark free-kick and the former Dundalk goalkeeper tipped a Michael Rafter effort around the post in the 81st minute.

Dundalk’s hopes of a comeback disappeared when Griffin was shown a straight red by referee Kelly after a challenge on Brian Shorthall in the 85th minute.

DUNDALK: P Cherrie; J Mountney, D Foran, L Burns (B Conlon 85), E Osborne; M O'Brien (C Reilly 72), S Maher, C Shields, S McDonnell (L Shannon 60); M Griffin, M Rafter.

SHELBOURNE: C Bennion; B Shorthall, A Boyle, S Paisley, S Byrne; S Hurley, D Cassidy (B Clancy 80), G Cronin, P Kavanagh (Conan Byrne 86), S Hurley, K Dawson, P Byrne.

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).