Dundalk move clear after big win at Cobh
Cobh Ramblers 1-2 Dundalk
Dundalk are four points clear at the top of the First Division following a 2-1 victory over title rivals Cobh Ramblers at a packed St Colman's Park.
Daryl Horgan ran the show, with the former Republic of Ireland senior international scoring and getting an assist on a night that saw Waterford native Shane Griffin pull a goal back with a brilliantly taken free-kick in the 54th minute.
The pressure was on Cobh to get a result, as a win would have put Mick McDermott's side on top.
Ramblers had no time to settle as Dundalk were given a free-kick in the third minute and Sean Keogh issued a warning by hitting the near post.
Horgan also got into two scoring positions and the winger kicked the ball into the hands of Timothy Martin on both occasions.
Cobh had to work to get into such positions, with their first real sight of goal coming from a corner and Barry Coffey headed this wide.
Dundalk shrugged this off and took the lead through Horgan in the 37th minute. That was a brilliant individual moment of skill as the former Republic of Ireland international carved out a small opening on the edge of the area and fired into the opposite corner.
The Rams rallied at the end of the half in search of an equaliser, but it was Dundalk who scored again, with Gbemi Arubi heading in from close range off a Horgan cross.
Cobh went for it after the break and pulled one back in the 54th minute with Griffin curling in a free-kick at the Liam McMahon Stand.
The hosts went forward once they got the ball back with a furious intensity, and Dundalk held firm through half-chances for Coffey and Carrigaline's Shane Griffin.
The Lilywhites came through this spell and set up Vincent Lombard for a close range strike that hit the roof of the net.
Eoin Kenny also ran clean through, and a chance to wrap things up was stopped by an onrushing Martin.
Cobh Ramblers: Timothy Martin; Jonas Hakkinen (Nolan Evers 59), Cian Coleman, Shane Griffin, Luka Le Bervet, Shane Griffin, Jason Abbott (Niall O'Keeffe 59), Cian Bargary (Dale Holland 30), Cian Bargary, Samuel Bellis (David Bosnjak 75), Cian Murphy.
Dundalk: Enda Minogue; Sean Keogh, Vincent Leonard, Mayowa Animasahun, Conor O'Keeffe, Harry Groome (Andy Paraschiv 61), Keith Ward (Eoin Kenny 61), Aodh Dervin, Daryl Horgan, Leonardo Gaxha, Gbemi Arubi (Dean Ebbe 61).
Referee: Darragh White
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