It is a record that has stood since February 1943 and tonight it was finally broken tonight as Patrick Hoban took over Joey Donnelly long-standing record with his 70th league goal for Dundalk tonight. The man from Pearse Park, the same street that
Robbie Benson and Chris Shields capitalised on defensive errors to put a resolute Shamrock Rovers to the sword.
Dan Carr pulled one back as Shamrock Rovers took the game to Dundalk near the end but to no avail.
In what was a tense first half, one that fans should expect from these games it was Shamrock Rovers who had the early sight of goal. Sean Kavanagh proved a handful for Dundalk all right had two chances in quick succession to test deputy goalkeeper Gabriel Sava in the Dundalk goal.
Patrick Hoban had the first chance for Dundalk with the in form striker turning and shot from the edge of the area but it went over Horgan's cross bar with ease.
A Dundalk defensive was at sixes and sevens as Sean Gannon has to clear the danger from a certain goal. Sava's mistimed his run to lose the run of the ball which caused the initial problem.
Both Hoban and Michael Duffy had clear cut chances as the half grew on, the post however had other ideas as they were thwarted by the frame of the goal.
In the second half, Dundalk went ahead with Hoban's initial shot was only parried by Horgan and Benson closed in to score from close range.
Dundalk looked to put Rovers to bed with the wind in their sails as Dane Massey then went close with a half volley. Dundalk didn't have to wait long for a second as a goal out of no where was produced with Shields crossed a low ball into the area and it evades Kevin Horgan and slipped into the back of the net.
Carr scored from a corner as Shamrock Rovers turned the screw to get back into the game. A brilliant corner sent in by Brandon Miele was headed with real venom to send the away end into raptures as Dundalk were truly on the back foot.
The equalizer nearly came when Graham Burke hit a smashing left footed volley goalwards only for his shot to be tipped onto the bar by Sava. Dundalk and Rovers did have chances near the end but its a case of fortune favouring the brave for Dundalk as they look to head the SSE Airtricity League table.
