City decked as Dundalk close in on the title
DUNDALK were all but crowned Premier Division champions last night as a first-half demolition of Derry City inched them ever closer to the title.
Goals from Daniel Cleary, Patrick McEleney and Patrick Hoban did the damage to the Candystripes in the first half.
City did make a game of it in the second half and pulled goals back through a Dean Jarvis own goal and a strike from Ben Fisk.
Dundalk showed just why they will be champions as they took their first chance when it came. Aaron McEneff needlessly conceded a free kick just outside his own penalty area and when Michael Duffy crossed it, Cleary was there to power a bullet head- er past Gerard Doherty.
McEleney then got his first goal against his hometown club, as he finished a sweeping Dundalk counter attack by hooking the ball left-footed past keeper Doherty.
Dundalk’s third came just before half time and again it was avoidable from a Derry City point of view as Hoban was allowed to receive the ball, turn and pick his spot.
Derry made a game of it in the second half and pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when Aidy Delap’s goalbound shot was saved by Gary Rogers but the ball rebounded back off Dean Jarvis and into the net for an own goal.
The Candystripes then made it a nervy finish for the hosts by pulling a second goal back with just two minutes remaining, Dean Shiels playing Fisk through and the Canadian finished well. DUNDALK: Rogers, Gannon, Hoare, Shields, Duffy, Mountney (Connolly, 62 mins), Hoban (Kelly, 85 mins), McGrath, McEleney (Murray, 62 mins), Cleary, Jarvis. DERRY: Doherty, McHattie, Cole, Toal, McDonagh, McEneff (Shiels, 46 mins), Splaine, Rory Hale, Delap (Fisk, 83 mins), Ronan Hale, Roy (Nicky Low, 46 mins). Referee: Paul McLaughlin
Man of the match: Patrick Hoban
Match rating: 8/10