Ed McCarthy and Kris Twardek on target as Galway secure huge win in Dundalk

Dundalk 1 - 2 Galway United On the night Dundalk celebrated their centenary of joining the League of Ireland, Galway United spoiled the party at Oriel Park as goals in either half from Ed McCarthy and Kris Twardek secured a huge victory for the Tribesmen. While Trevor Clarke did pull a goal back for the hosts in the closing stages to set up a nervy finish, it was a repeat result of that 2-1 loss away to Fordsons 100 years ago for Ciarán Kilduff's side – who have now taken just two points from the last 21 on offer. The Co Louth side dominated proceedings but failed to do enough to trouble John Caulfield's outfit, who are now just four points behind the Lilywhites with a game in hand. Regular Position Team P G W D L GD 1 Shamrock Rovers 54 27 16 6 5 +19 2 St. Patrick's Athletic 50 28 14 8 6 +22 3 Bohemians 47 28 13 8 7 +13 4 Dundalk 37 28 9 10 9 0 5 Shelbourne 34 26 8 10 8 -2 6 Derry City 33 28 7 12 9 +1 7 Galway United 33 27 8 9 10 -6 8 Waterford 29 28 6 11 11 -11 9 Drogheda United 28 28 6 10 12 -14 10 Sligo Rovers 23 28 5 8 15 -22 Despite all the pre-match build-up, Galway silenced Oriel Park after just eight minutes when a routine ball forward from goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha was knocked down by Stephen Walsh to McCarthy, who ghosted past a flailing challenge from Aodh Dervin before curling an effort over Enda Minogue. The home side dominated after that but Galway managed to double their lead with just their third attempt on 55 minutes when Anthony O'Connor got to the end line before pulling back for Twardek to tap home. A brilliant free-kick from Clarke, which he curled over the wall into the top right-hand corner with five minutes to go gave the home side hope of a revival. They thought it had arrived too on 87 minutes when Bobby Burns' cross from the left picked Clarke out at the back post but with the goal gaping, his effort came off his own player, Egor Vassenin, before going wide.