Dundalk 1 - 2 Limerick

Dundalk's title hopes were left hanging by a thread on Friday evening following a 2-1 defeat to Limerick at Oriel Park.

A first half double from Limerick's Rory Gaffney was enough to give three points to the visitors. Richie Towell pulled one back for the hosts from the penalty spot with 25 minutes remaining as the expected Lilywhite onslaught never materialised.

Dundalk made two changes from the side which suffered defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic last weekend as skipper Stephen O'Donnell missed out through suspension following his sending off last Friday and John Mountney dropped to the bench. In their place came Chris Shields and Darren Meenan who both returned from their respective bans.

For the visitors, there was just the one change as captain Joe Gamble returned from his suspension in place of Dave O'Leary who dropped out of the squad altogether.

Despite indications that he was injured, Patrick Hoban had the first chance of the match when Darren Meenan's corner fell to the striker in the centre of the box however he blazed over when free.

That was the only real effort on goal in the opening stages however Dundalk were in control of the game and somewhat against the run of play, Limerick took the lead on 17 minutes.

John Dillon's loose pass went straight to Stephen Bradley and his perfectly weighted pass caught out the Lilywhite defence and found Rory Gaffney who volleyed to the net despite Peter Cherrie getting a hand to it.

Dundalk almost responded immediately when Chris Shields pressed forward with the ball and his cross found Hoban but he could only direct his shot over the bar.

The home side continued to press however they were caught on the break once more as Patrick Nzuzi's long ball set free Gaffney and despite appeals of offside, he continued his run and calmly slotted the ball past Cherrie to give the visitors a commanding lead.

Like the first goal, Dundalk almost responded immediately as Hoban headed over again from a Meenan corner. The Blues should have made it 3 five minutes before half-time when Jason Hughes' cross finds Craig Curran but his header is brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Cherrie and the defence scrambled the ball clear.

The Meenan-Hoban combination was in operation once more and like the previous times, Hoban headed the ball over the bar.

Shields then was lucky to stay on the pitch following a tackle on Carel Tiofack and that proved to be the final action of the half as Limerick went in deservedly 2-0 in front.

Limerick started the second half the brighter and almost grabbed that third goal when a Gaffney throw-in caused mayhem in the Dundalk area and the ball broke to Curran but his stinging shot whistled inches wide of Cherrie's left hand post.

Limerick looked comfortable in the game and looked dangerous every time they broke forward however, with 25 minutes left Dundalk were thrown a lifeline.

The ball broke to Hoban in the Limerick area and as he tried to lift it over Sam Oji, the defender handled the ball leaving referee Derek Tomney with no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Richie Towell and he made no mistake by sending Barry Ryan the wrong way.

The Lilywhites should have been level moments later when a Meenan free-kick once again found Hoban and despite having a free header, he nodded it wide of the right hand post.

Dane Massey then shot over from a free-kick after Tiarnan Mulvenna was fouled.

Dundalk continued to press and with 5 minutes remaining, Hoban tried an ambitious overhead kick from a Meenan cross however it went well wide.

That was as close as the home side came in the closing stages as Limerick held on for their second victory over Dundalk this season leaving the Lilywhites title dream in tatters.

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter (c), Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Richie Towell, Chris Shields (Jordan Keegan 83); Darren Meenan, John Dillon (John Mountney 53), Kurtis Byrne (Tiarnan Mulvenna 58); Patrick Hoban.
Subs not used: Conor Winn (GK), John Sullivan, Simon Kelly, Vinny Faherty.

Booked: Byrne (37), Shields (45), Keegan (90+2), Rossiter (90+4).

Limerick: Barry Ryan; Patrick Nzuzi, Sam Oji, Stephen Folan, Robbie Williams; Stephen Bradley, Joe Gamble (c), Carel Tiofack (Shaun Kelly 70), Jason Hughes, Rory Gaffney; Craig Curran.
Subs not used: Shane Cusack (GK), Tony Whitehead, Colm Murphy, Darragh Rainsford, Barry Sheedy, Axel Bossekota.

Booked: Nzuzi (14), Bradley (20), Curran (26), Oji (65).

Referee: Derek Tomney

Attendance: 2,018