Dundalk picked up their fourth league win on the trot thanks to a 1-0 victory over Derry City at Oriel Park.

A cracking first half ended with Dundalk holding a one goal lead, given to them in the 43rd minute by Colin Hawkins.

The big centre-back charged forward in a quick Lilywhites break and he got his reward, heading Dean Bennett's cross past Ger Doherty.

Hawkins took the glory but the plaudits went to Peter Cherrie. The Dundalk goalkeeper made four great saves, one to stop Gareth McGlynn's 16th minute penalty with another remarkable stop coming in the 35th when he denied Eamon Zayed what looked a certain goal after Ruaidhri Higgins had cracked the bar form 18-yards.

Dundalk had the Derry woodwork shaking early in the second-half when Mark Quigley steered an effort against the post and Stephen Kenny's men almost snatched a point late on when Zayed turned the ball wide of the post.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hector, Hawkins, N Murphy; Kearns, Bennett, Bolger, Ward, Quigley; Griffin (Breen 89).

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion (McDaid 66), Greacen, S McEleney, Lafferty (Harkin 81); McLaughlin (P McEleney 66), Higgins, Molloy, McClean; Zayed, McGlynn.

REFEREE: Damien Hancock (Dublin).