Dundalk cut Shamrock Rovers lead in title race with victory at Oriel Park

On the night they paraded world champion boxer Amy Broadhurst at Oriel Park, it was Robbie Benson who delivered a late knockout blow for Dundalk against Shamrock Rovers to breath life into the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title race.

The 30-year-old popped up 10 minutes from the end to steer a stunning cross from Lewis Macari into the net to close the gap at the top of the table to just five points, with Stephen O'Donnell’s side still having a game in hand over the league leaders.

It was Benson’s 12th career goal against the Hoops and his first league goal for Dundalk at Oriel Park since scoring in the 3-2 victory over the Tallaght men in 2019, which secured the Louth men’s last league title.

The result was no more than the Lilywhites deserved having dominated possession against a Rovers side who more often than not took the route one approach without the guile of Jack Byrne and Graham Burke.

Stephen Bradley’s side – who finished the game with 10 men after Ronan Finn’s late dismissal – will still be hot favourites for the league title despite this setback, but this result ensures they won’t hang on to it without a fight.

It was the home side who were first to threaten, with Patrick Hoban heading just wide from Steven Bradley’s inswinging free from the left on six minutes.

Danny Mandroiu and Richie Towell then both had acrobatic efforts off target for Rovers at the other end before Andy Boyle headed agonisingly wide after getting on the end of another Bradley free-kick on 20 minutes.

Rory Gaffney then sliced wide five minutes later after outmuscling Boyle to get on the end of an Alan Mannus clearance.

The 32-year-old then conjured up the first and only shot on target of the half a minute later when he picked up Darragh