First Division: Dundalk down Cobh Ramblers to get back on track
Dundalk opened up a four-point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division table as Gbemi Arubi's third goal of the season proved decisive in securing a third win of the campaign against Cobh Ramblers at Oriel Park.
Ciarán Kilduff's side came into the game on the back of their first defeat of the season away to Finn Harps on Monday, knowing that a win for the Cork outfit would see them knocked off the summit.
However, a stunning bicycle kick from Arubi – back in the side after four weeks out injured – proved the difference as the Lilywhites claimed what could be a huge result in their pursuit of an immediate return to the top flight.
Mick McDermott's side are by no means out of the running but a third straight defeat against their nearest challengers was damaging, with added salt rubbed in the wounds by the late dismissal of Cian Coleman.
Kilduff had asked for a response from his side in Harps defeat on Monday and he certainly got it with Arubi opening the scoring with a scream after just 13 minutes.
Cobh failed to deal with Luke Mulligan's cross from the right with the ball helped down out of the air by Dean Ebbe before Eoin Kenny's attempt to control saw it break for the ex-Shelbourne player to send a superb bicycle kick past Timo Martin having reacted quicker than Jonas Hakkinen.
Mulligan then had a long range effort drift to the right and wide before Arubi was denied a second on 21 minutes when his close range effort was saved by Martin after Vinnie Leonard had kept Sean Keogh's deep free kick alive at the back post.
Cobh then had what proved to be their only attempt of the half a minute later when Barry Coffey slipped Cian Murphy in only for the striker to be denied by the alert Enda Minogue, who was quick off his line to block.
The hosts then almost doubled their lead on 33 minutes when Horgan beat Hakkinen on the left before standing up a cross to the back post that left Martin floundering only to drift wide with Ebbe unable to get a touch as he flung himself towards the ball.
Arubi and Keogh then both had long range efforts before the break with the first saved by Martin before the latter drifted just over.
The visitors did have a half chance within three minutes of the restart when Coffey found space on the left but his effort was deflected tamely into the arms of Minogue.
Dundalk then should have doubled their lead on 50 minutes when Horgan beat Hakkinen on the left before squaring to Ebbe for what should have been a simple tap-in but he got his angles all wrong and screwed a shot well wide.
Cobh then had a big chance of their own two minutes later when Coffey released Murphy in behind Leonard but his toe-poked effort was blocked by Minogue before the defender scrambled it clear.
Hakkinen then had a deep cross touched over by Minogue at full stretch on 61 minutes before Coffey headed over from Luka Le Bervet's cross two minutes later.
The Louth men were next to threaten on 70 minutes when Arubi beat both Niall O'Keeffe and Shane Griffin to get a shot away which drifted just to the left and wide. Substitute Andy Paraschiv then volleyed just wide on 75 minutes before forcing a save from Martin with a shot from just outside the box moments later.
Kenny then had a great chance to wrap things up five minutes from time when he was released by Leonard but after cutting inside Coleman, his left foot shot was easily saved by Martin.
The Luxembourger then kept his side in it with a big stop on 91 minutes to turn Horgan's shot out for a corner after he had been slipped in by Arubi.
Cobh's evening then took a turn for the worst two minutes later when Coleman was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence following a foul on Aodh Dervin.
That allowed Dundalk to run down the clock to secure what could be a huge result in the First Division title race.
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Luke Mulligan (Sean McHale 71), Mayowa Animasahun, Vinnie Leonard, Sean Keogh; Aodh Dervin, Keith Ward (Andy Paraschiv 59); Eoin Kenny, Dean Ebbe (Harry Groome 59), Daryl Horgan; Gbemi Arubi.
Cobh Ramblers: Timo Martin; Jonas Hakkinen, Cian Coleman, Shane Griffin, Luka Le Bervet (John O'Donovan 86); Niall O'Keeffe (Jason Abbott 71) Dale Holland (Sam Bellis 65); Matthew Whelan, Barry Coffey, Shane Griffin; Cian Murphy (Brendan Frahill 86).
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