Dundalk vs Shamrock Rovers

Robbie Benson celebrates his winning goal. Image: James Crombie/INPHO. Dundalk 1. Shamrock Rovers 0. David Sneyd reports from Oriel Park. THE TOP TWO in the ...

It was another warning and on 52 minutes the home side again threatened from a dead ball. The game was on a knife edge entering the final half hour and when Rovers sent on Chris McCann for Dylan Watts their thinking was clear: wrest back control in the middle of the pitch and see things out for a point. Gaffney had tormented Andy Boyle earlier in the half, bullying him off the ball near the edge of the box and firing a shot wide, and he continued his powerful display straight after the re-start by chasing a ball down the right channel and cutting in to fire a shot into the side netting. But the champions were now in the ascendancy and Mandroiu continued to mix his play up, running in behind and dropping deep to link play with the midfield. It was a tough opportunity to take first time and after a scuffed connection, the Dubliner had a second chance as the ball looped invitingly for an overhead kick. Rory Gaffney blitzed Andy Boyle for pace down the right and maintained his composure on the run to loop a delightful cross to the back post, where Daniel Mandroiu had bust a gut down the opposite flank.

Lilywhites head coach Stephen O'Donnell won't be on the sidelines for tonight's top-of-the-table clash.

Meanwhile, Lilywhites head coach Stephen O'Donnell won't be on the touchline tonight after being sent off against Derry before the mid-season break. Kick-off is at 7.45pm and the game will be live on the LMFM app and website. Lilywhites head coach Stephen O'Donnell won't be on the sidelines for tonight's top-of-the-table clash.

On the night they paraded world champion boxer Amy Broadhurst at Oriel Park it was Robbie Benson who delivered a late knock-out blow for Dundalk against ...

Then came the breakthrough on 80 minutes. Rory Gaffney then conjured up the first and only shot on target of the half six minutes later when he picked up Darragh Leahy’s headed clearance at the edge of the box only to see his effort go straight into the arms of Nathan Shepperd despite a deflection off Paul Doyle. The 30-year-old popped up 10 minutes from the end to steer a stunning cross from Lewis Macari into the net to close the gap at the top of the table to just five points with Stephen O’Donnell’s side still having a game in hand over the league leaders.

We've got a Bet Builder treble in Friday's column for the big Irish Premier Division clash between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.

Despite this, visiting Shamrock Rovers are favourites for the match but Dundalk could run them close at a decent price of 3.814/5 and the draw at 3.412/5 is of interest as it'd do Rovers just fine and this is a game Dundalk just can't afford to lose. If the champions do have a weakness it's on the road, where all three of their league defeats have come, and they've won just one of the last three away games as they visit a Dundalk side that's unbeaten at home this season. It's a top of the table clash in the Irish Premier Division on Thursday as Dundalk look to try and close the gap on leaders Shamrock Rovers.

Patched-up Drogheda United earn point at the Brandywell while St Patrick's Athletic complete hat-trick over UCD.

Smith’s teasing cross was met on the full by Will Patching, but his volley from 12 yards sailed over the crossbar. A surging run from Mark Doyle opened UCD up. Substitute Alex Nolan got a goal back for UCD on 87 minutes with a low drive to the net, but it proved a mere consolation. Eoin Doyle scored twice to give St Patrick’s a hat-trick of wins for the season over bottom side UCD, who had both manager Andy Myler and his assistant Willie O’Connor sent to the stand. McGonigle was out of luck again five minutes from the end when he failed to head McEleney’s deep cross into the net from 10 yards. Dayle Rooney could have brought Drogheda level in the 53rd minute after he intercepted Kavanagh’s ill-advised back pass but Cameron McJannet did well to get back and clear the effort at the expense of a corner. In short, the home side dominated the game but failed to net their vital second goal as Drogheda continued to frustrate with their flooded defence and no-nonsense tactics. A patched-up Drogheda United secured a share of the spoils at the Brandywell as Derry City failed to return to winning ways much to the disappointment of the large home support. Gaffney would go close again for Rovers within two minutes of the restart when he fired into the side netting but it was largely the home side pushing for a breakthrough and it came on 80 minutes. The 30-year-old popped up 10 minutes from the end to steer a stunning cross from Lewis Macari into the net to close the gap at the top of the table to just five points, with Stephen O’Donnell’s side still having a game in hand over the league leaders. Things then went from bad to worse for the Hoops three minutes later when captain Finn was sent off for a second bookable offence following a high challenge on Darragh Leahy. In a game of few chances Patrick Hoban and Andy Boyle both went close with first-half headers for Dundalk, with Rory Gaffney having the only shot on target in the half when he fired straight at Nathan Shepperd on 26 minutes.

The 'Fortress Oriel' banner, unfurled by Dundalk fans before kick-off, can be stored away for future use as the club's impressive home record, ...

They had the first chance of the game, when a free kick by Steven Bradley on six minutes was met with a header by Pat Hoban, but his effort lacked conviction and direction. Dundalk presented champion boxer and local hero Amy Broadhurst to the crowd at half time, with Rovers fans wondering if their team also had the punch needed for title tilt within them. But while Rovers, with two defeats in three games, now know for sure they face a challenge, Dundalk work out how much higher they can climb, ahead of games against bottom-half sides Shelbourne and UCD in the coming weeks.

SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Dundalk 1-0 Shamrock Rovers Dundalk FC have heaped more pressure on Shamrock Rovers at the top of the SSE Airtricity ...

Home Home Robbie Benson scored the decisive goal on 80 minutes to give Dundalk the three points.