CITY SEAL DEAL FOR BAZUNU

Leaders Dundalk made to work hard for three points at Showgrounds

MANCHESTER CITY have completed a €400,000 deal to snap up Shamrock Rovers teenager Gavin Bazunu (right).

The English Premier League champions concluded negotiations with the Hoops and

DUNDALK got nothing easy against the team with the worst home record in the top flight but stuck to the task to move three points clear with a game in hand.

Michael Duffy bagged his 10th of the Premier Division campaign as the Lilywhites greased the wheels on their relentless title charge with a 13th league win in a row.

And ace marksman Pat Hoban headed home his 25th of the season – 24th in the league and 100th of his career – late on to seal a professional victory.

Having seen champions Cork City falter when drawing at home to St Pat’s on Sunday, Stephen Kenny’s charges knew this was an opportunity they could not squander.

Rovers’ woes of recent weeks were well documented with players handing back a portion of their wages after crashing out of two cup competitions in a week.

But their league win in Limerick on Friday should ensure their status for next season and they played here as if a weight was lifted.

On a night when Raffaele Cretaro snatched the club’s all-time record of league appearances, they gave as good as they got.

But Dundalk packed more punch in the final third and that proved the difference with Duffy the relentless tormentor.

And it was fitting that he provided the breakthrough.

Chris Shields’ ball forward before the half-hour was hopeful but Duffy read it and curled home past covering defender Kyle Callan-mcfadden and keeper Mitchell Beeney.

The winger could have quickly doubled and trebled his tally but his volleyed effort from Sean Hoare’s deep cross was saved while Beeney then got down low to thwart him at the near post moments later.

Gerard Lyttle’s Rovers were propelled by Rhys Mccabe and Lee Lynch while Regan Donelon’s set piece delivery was also top notch in the opening half.

With few inroads being made at either end in the second half, Rovers threw Cretaro on for a club record 432nd league appearance, eclipsing the great Tony Fagan record that stood for three decades.

But Hoban ensured no late wobbles by heading home a Duffy corner with 12 minutes to play.

Derby v Ipswich QPR v Bristol City Rotherham v Hull Swansea v Leeds AFC Wimbledon v Walsall Blackpool v Coventry Bradford v Burton Albion Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth Charlton v Peterborough Doncaster v Shrewsbury Luton v Southend Oxford Utd v Accringto MILESTONE Raf Cretaro made his 432nd outing for Sligo last night DUFFY’S DELIGHT Michael Duffy enjoys his opener last night as Pat Hoban doubles lead (left)