DESPITE missing a first half penalty at Oriel Park on Sunday afternoon, Dundalk were still good enough to beat a Derry City side that tried hard.

Derry might have been in front within 60 seconds when a header by Gary Beckett was tipped over the bar by Dundalk goalkeeper, Eddie Van Boxtel.

Dundalk got a penalty just before half time when Mick Byrne was taken down in the area by Paul Curran, but Richie Purdy hit the crossbar from the spot kick. Dundalk, however, had not long to wait to take the lead. Byrne scored from a Keith Long cutback from, the by-line in the 38th minute.

Derry thought they had secured a point when Harry McCourt found the net in the 72nd minute after a poor clearance by goalkeeper Van Boxtel, but Dundalk got the winner in the 75thh minute. Peter Withnell took on and beat the Derry defence and set up an easy scoring chance for Brian Byrne, who found the net from the edge of the six yard area.