Lilywhites up to third after overcoming Sligo Rovers

It was a very Good Friday for Dundalk as first half goals from Patrick Hoban and Daniel Kelly saw them move up to third place in the table with just their third win of the season against Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park.

Stephen O'Donnell’s side had to overcome a late scare when Max Mata pulled a goal back from Paddy Kirk’s long throw with three minutes to go but were full value for their win in the end.

The result piles the pressure on Liam Buckley’s side who are now without a win in their last five matches.

While Dundalk are still a work in progress, their difficult to beat nature has them very much in the mix for Europe.

It was nevertheless a costly victory for the Louth men with both Robbie Benson and Dan Williams limping off with injuries that threaten to rule them out of Easter Monday’s trip to face Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

After a couple of half chances for the visitors in the early stages, it was Dundalk who fashioned the first serious opening of the game on five minutes when Hoban slipped Steven Bradley in on goal but the young Scot was denied by a fine stop from Ed McGinty, who was quick off his line.

Aidan Keena then had a half chance five minutes later after Andy Boyle's clearance came off his colleague Mark Connolly but his effort was straight at Nathan Shepperd.

Kelly then flicked a header wide from Sloggett’s cross a minute later before Shepperd came to Dundalk’s rescue once again on 13 minutes with a super save at point blank range to deny Max Mata after Karl O’Sullivan’s shot had broke to him inside the box.

Keena then had another half chance on 16 minutes when he beat Shepperd and Connolly to Will Fitzgerald’s knock down but he his effort under pressure was high and wide.

Kelly then had another good chance