Aaron lights up Tallaght to leave ten-man Shamrock Rovers sitting pretty after seeing off Dundalk

Another topsy turvy night of results in the Premier Division saw ten-man Shamrock Rovers return to the League of Ireland summit with a comfortable win over Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.

Aaron Greene proved the difference between the two sides and while his first goal might go down as a Nathan Sheppard own goal after replays showed his close-range effort was going wide, there was no doubt about his second goal just after the hour mark.

The Hoops average a red card every three games and after Richie Towell, Sean Hoare and Johnny Kenny were dismissed away to Cork last Friday, a professional foul on Rayhaan Tulloch from former Lilywhite Ronan Finn gave them their fourth red in two games.

To their credit, Rovers responded well despite losing their captain and hit Dundalk with a sucker punch second goal and they were happy to soak up late pressure as Dundalk fired plenty of efforts on goal but failed to test Leon Pohls.

Shamrock Rovers were looking to arrest a run of back-to-back defeats while Dundalk came to Tallaght looking for a first win in four games. Both teams were bang out of form so naturally there was a very open start to the game on a sun kissed Tallafornia pitch.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges and a training ground routine from a corner saw Archie Davies arrive late at the back post but he cannoned his free header into the ground in the fourth minute.

Rovers got joy from long diagonals in the channel between Davies and Hayden Muller with Greene going close in either half, but the excellent Sheppard stood firm twice.

Dundalk had another couple of moments through Tulloch and Greg Sloggett but the Hoops asserted their dominance in the second quarter.

Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Dundalk Aaron Greene taps home Ronan