Dundalk 1 Limerick 0
Dundalk left it late but ultimately proved their character and credentials once again as Patrick Hoban broke Limerick’s resistance with a late winner at Oriel Park in front of an attendance of 2,256.
His 84th minute header keeps his side four points clear of closest challengers Cork City at the top of the table.
Rory Gaffney was an early handful for the Dundalk defence, drawing two timely blocks out of Brian Gartland, but steadily the Lilywhites began to find their stride.
The devilishly quick Daryl Horgan zipped his way in from the left and slid in the overlapping Dane Massey who came in on the blindside of Patrick Nzuzi but the defender was bailed out by goalkeeper Barry Ryan who rushed out to make the save.
As they moved through the gears, chances continued to come. On 16 minutes, a splendid passing move culminated in Richie Towell clipping over the defence for Patrick Hoban and he in turn nodded down for Kurtis Byrne.
Sole spectators
In acres of space inside the area, the in-form forward should have found the net but volleyed over with Ryan’s goal at his mercy. But Limerick were not sole spectators and they too spurned the opportunity to go ahead when Robbie Williams headed Lee-J Lynch’s corner behind.
While Limeick were feeding on scraps in terms of chances, Dundalk continued to create a number of excellent opportunities.
Richie Towell dispossessed a slack Stephen Folan on the edge of his own penalty area but the SWAI Player of the Month for July could not find the finish with the excellent Barry Ryan, gaining a real reputation for formidable performances in this fixture, diving low to his right to spare his defender’s blushes.
Byrne was then denied twice by further fine saves from the ex-Shamrock Rovers man, one at the outset of the first half and then again at the start of the second as they chased the goal that would keep the chasing pack at arm’s length.
He was found towards the end of the first by Hoban but could only fire straight at Ryan who then foiled him once more in the second after Sean Gannon crossed superbly onto the attacker’s head.
Hoban himself was kept out with a close-range header and substitute David McMillan was sprung from the bench in Dundalk’s search for a goal which almost bore instant rewards but once more the effort was saved.
It looked to be a night of disappointment for Dundalk until the 84th minute when Hoban struck for what could be his most important of his 15 goals this season yet.
Meenan swung in a corner from the left which Ryan came to collect but the livewire striker got there first and thumped the ball home to send the home fans wild with delight and deliver Dundalk a vital three points in their title charge.
DUNDALK: Cherrie; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Shields (Higgins 79), Towell; Meenan, Byrne (McMillan 70), Horgan, Hoban (Mountney 88).
LIMERICK: Ryan; Nzuzi, Oji, Folan, Williams; Hughes, Duggan, Lynch; Turner (Tracy 85), Doherty (Djilali 73); Gaffney (McManus 63).
Referee: Rob Rogers.
