SOCCER LEAGUE OF IRELAND:Shamrock Rovers 3 Dundalk 1 (Twigg 36, 87 Baker 90/Daly 65)

GARY TWIGG produced again for Shamrock Rovers with a brace of goals as the pressure on Dundalk manager Seán Connor intensifies.

Dessie Baker added a third in stoppage time as Dundalk slumped to a third straight defeat.

Dundalk started well and Shaun Kelly hit a post following Chris Turner’s sublime through ball on 26 minutes.

But Rovers came alive and took the lead 10 minutes later.

A ball over the top from Aidan Price caught Dundalk square. Twigg raced in and, with the ease of a striker in form, causally lobbed goalkeeper Chris Bennion from an tight angle for his 12th goal of the season.

Dundalk enjoyed their best spell on the resumption and deservedly equalised on 67 minutes. The influential Darren Mansaram got to the end line to pull the ball back and supporting midfielder Michael Daly tapped in from a yard out.

Rovers’ survived Ger Rowe firing wide from Mansaram’s through ball on 77 minutes, while Price had to head off the line from the big Dundalk front man, before striking to regain the lead on 88 minutes. Dundalk failed to defend Stephen Rice’s long throw and Twigg’s looping header beat Bennion.

Substitute Baker then sealed the win in the first minute of stoppage time when he raced through to lob the stranded goalkeeper.

SHAMROCK ROVERS:Duggan; Treacy, Maguire, Price, Bermingham; Bradley (Purcell, 84 mins), Rice, Robinson, O'Connor (Cahill, 70 mins); Amond (Baker, 82 mins), Twigg.

DUNDALK:Bennion; Simon Kelly, Heary (McGinley, 65 mins), Burns, Synott (Coburn, 49 mins); Shaun Kelly, Daly, Turner, Mulvenna; Rowe, Mansaram.

Referee:Dave McKeon (Dublin).