Shelbourne 1 Dundalk 2

Early goals from Andy Boyle and Brian Gartland kept Dundalk's title ambitions well and truly on the boil with a ninth away win of the season.

A fifth win from six games for Stephen Kenny’s side keeps them a point behind leaders St Pat’s as they brought an end to Shelbourne’s five-match unbeaten run at Tolka Park.

Shelbourne rallied well in the second half and got a goal back through Graham Gartland. But their chief consolation on the night came from the knowledge that relegation rivals UCD and Bohs both lost.

Dundalk blitzed Shelbourne early on to run up a 2-0 lead inside 13 minutes. After 72 seconds Darren Meenan’s corner was headed powerfully to the net by central defender Boyle for his first goal for the club.

It should have been 2-0 five minutes later but for a fine penalty save by Shelbourne goalkeeper Lee Murphy from John Dillon after Gartland was booked for pulling down Dundalk captain Stephen O’Donnell.

But Dundalk didn’t have long to wait to score again. Another Meenan corner found Boyle’s central defensive partner Gartland who was unmarked as he headed firmly to the net.

Shelbourne battled back into the game in the second half and had a good shout for a penalty ignored on 57 minutes when Brian Gartland looked to have handled Sean Brennan’s shot.

Brennan then came close twice in quick succession. He saw a fierce shot bravely headed over the top by Boyle.

Dean Kelly then flicked on a long throw for Brennan who unleashed a stinging volley which Peter Cherrie somehow tipped over the bar. The pressure told on 73 minutes when Graham Gartland swept home following Brennan's corner kick.

SHELBOURNE: Murphy; Flynn (Tinnelly, 83), Ryan, Gartland, Doyle; Brennan, Cronin, Hurley (Gannon, 70), Hanlon; Murtagh (Cornwall, h/t), Kelly.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Rossiter, Boyle, Gartland, Shields: Dillon (Keegan, 74), Towell, O'Donnell, Meenan (Massey, 85); Hoban, Byrne (McCaffrey,68).
Referee: Padraigh Sutton. Att: 1,514.