LOI round-up: Clinical Dundalk move five points clear

Champions make it six consecutive wins as Shamrock Rovers are frustrated by Derry

John Moutney celebrates scoring Dundalk’s second against Finn Harps. Photograph: Ciaran Culligan/Inpho
John Moutney celebrates scoring Dundalk’s second against Finn Harps. Photograph: Ciaran Culligan/Inpho

Dundalk used their heads to move five points clear at the top of the Premier Division table as they eased past bottom side Finn Harps with a 3-0 win in Ballybofey on Saturday night.

Michael Duffy put the champions in front on 32 minutes when heading home a John Mountney cross.

Fellow midfielder Mountney doubled Dundalk’s lead two minutes before the break with another headed goal, this time from a Patrick McEleney cross.

Defender Brian Gartland then nodded in from a Duffy corner just past the hour as Dundalk made it six straight wins to stretch their unbeaten league run to 12 games.

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Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe earned Derry City a point as they came from behind to salvage an unlikely 2-2 draw in frustrating second-placed Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Following a relatively tame first half, the goals flowed early in the second, Rovers deservedly taking the lead on 52 minutes from left-back Trevor Clarke’s cracking first goal of the season.

Rovers added to that three minutes later when midfielder Jack Byrne surged forward to drill a low shot to the bottom corner.

Crucially, though, Derry hit back within a further two minutes when Ciaran Coll’s well-placed header from skipper Barry McNamee’s cross found the net for his first goal for the club.

Ogedi-Uzokwe then completed the Derry comeback on 84 minutes, scrambling home after Alan Mannus could only parry a header from Greg Sloggett.

Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic swapped late goals as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds.

Jack Keaney put the home side in front on 80 minutes when his long-range free kick was deflected to the net.

St Patrick's hit back within two minutes, Kevin Toner following up to volley home after Gary Shaw hit the crossbar.