Dundalk 2

Cork City 1

DARYL HORGAN PROVED the difference as Dundalk took a major step towards defending their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title tonight.

Two first-half strikes from the league’s best player, against the club he left in 2013, sent the Lilywhites on their way to a 2-1 victory over nearest rivals Cork City.

Martin O’Neill was one of the 4,126 spectators present at Oriel Park and the Ireland manager will have been particularly impressed by Horgan’s second — a wonderfully-taken individual goal started in his own half.

Substitute Mark O’Sullivan pulled one back midway through the second half, but the hosts held on to open up a four-point lead at the top of the table with five matches to go.

Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny made three changes from the side that lost out 3-0 to Sligo Rovers last Saturday, the most significant of which saw goalkeeper Gary Rogers dropped for Gabriel Sava.

It was a big call to make, but the 35-year-old stopper has been guilty of some high-profile blunders — both domestically and on the European stage — in recent weeks.

Dundalk fans light flares before kick-off. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Alan Keane came in for Sean Gannon at full-back, while Patrick McEleney was a surprise starter in place of Chris Shields as the former Derry City midfielder had been expected to miss out with a hip problem.

Cork boss John Caulfield expressed his satisfaction with his team’s form earlier this week so it came as little surprise that he named the same 11 players that put five unanswered goals past Galway United.

The Leesiders had won both meetings between the clubs this season but it was Dundalk who got off to the perfect start.

With just seven minutes on the clock, Horgan stepped up to crash a free-kick off the crossbar from 25 yards. As it came back out, the ball struck the back of diving goalkeeper Mark McNulty and crossed the line.

If there were question marks over whether the winger should be awarded the first, there was no doubt about his second. Receiving the ball inside his own half, Horgan skipped past a couple of challenges on a mazy run before letting fly.

Horgan scoring his first. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Caulfield threw on O’Sullivan soon after the restart and the big striker didn’t take long to repay his manager with a goal on 56 minutes.

Greg Bolger pinged a ball out wide to Dooley, who crossed to the substitute and he bundled the ball over on the second attempt to ensure a frantic final third to the match.

Next up for Dundalk is a trip to Tallaght Stadium to face Shamrock Rovers on Friday, while Cork are at home to Finn Harps on the same night.

The title race may not be over just yet, but it’s certainly advantage to the champions after tonight’s result.

DUNDALK: Sava; Keane (Barrett 90), Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Mountney, O’Donnell (c), Finn, McEleney (Shields 58), Horgan; McMillan (C O’Connor 84).

CORK CITY: McNulty; Beattie, Bennett, Browne, O’Connor; Sheppard (Ogbene 73), Buckley, Bolger, Holohan (O’Sullivan 54), Dooley (Mulcahy 85); Maguire.

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