Bray Wanderers offered little resistance as Dundalk retook the baton from Cork City in the race for the Premier Division. The Lilywhites eased past strugglers Bray Wanderers and were in cruise control - even gifting the Seagulls a goal - as they ra
Bray Wanderers offered little resistance as Dundalk retook the baton from Cork City in the race for the Premier Division.
The Lilywhites eased past strugglers Bray Wanderers and were in cruise control - even gifting the Seagulls a goal - as they ran out 1-3 winners. Pat Hoban and Robbie Benson set the visitors on their way to victory in the first half before a Chris Shields blunder saw Jake Kelly pull one back.
Dylan Connolly returned to haunt his former club though and ensure that Dundalk would once again take pole position in the title chase. There was a last-minute debut for 17-year old goalkeeper Enda Mingoue following the late withdrawal of Evan Moran and his clean sheet lasted 17 minutes.
Jamie McGrath sent in a deep, hanging cross from the right and Hoban leapt highest to send a looping header over Minogue and into the far corner and bag his 23rd goal of the campaign. On 26 minutes, the Lilywhites doubled their lead as Robbie Benson floated a corner to the penalty spot.
Brian Gartland met it powerfully and Robbie Benson applied the finishing touch from close-range. Another delivery from McGrath - this time a deep free kick - caused worry for the Bray defence as Daniel Cleary muscled his way to the ball but his header sailed over the crossbar.
At the interval, it looked like the second half would be a procession for Stephen Kenny's side but Chris Shields' poor back-pass on 48 minutes changed that as it allowed Jake Kelly to steer past Rogers and halve the deficit.
But ex-Seagull Dylan Connolly - introduced at the break - would restore the two-goal cushion and secure the three points with 15 minutes left on the clock. There were large suspicions of offside as Hoban was found but he brilliantly rolled Conor Kenna before putting it on a plate for Connolly at the back post. Connolly opted for the hands-behind-the-ears celebration in front of the home support.
