SHAMROCK Rovers went back on top of the Airtricity League Premier Division thanks to a 2-1 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park.

 

Playing the first of three games in the space of six days, Michael O'Neill shuffled his pack, handing starts to Rohan Ricketts and Jim Paterson who were signed during the week. There was also a Hoops debut for former Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Richard Brush.

And with Rovers still fighting on three fronts, O'Neill will have been delighted by the impact of the new faces.

Brush was called into action after nine minutes. Ross Gaynor outmuscled Pat Sullivan on the left before hammering a half volley at goal which the Rovers keeper did well to parry.

Ricketts was also involved in the early stages, threading a good pass through to Karl Sheppard in the 14th minute. The big striker scored from a similar position in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season but this time his effort whistled over the bar.

A gilt edged chance arrived the home side's way four minutes later. Gaynor's low ball across the face of goal looked set to be tapped home by Jason Byrne but Rovers skipper Dan Murray somehow took the ball off his toes.

The Oriel Park faithful were up in arms soon after when Mark Quigley went down under pressure in the penalty area although referee Richie Winter looked to be correct with his decision to wave play on.

From then on the game faded into a midfield battle and it was no surprise that the teams went in scoreless at the break.

At half-time O'Neill introduced Billy Dennehy for Gary McCabe in a bid to get some more width into the Hoops attacking play. Ricketts was moved to the right flank and he almost set up Twigg up in the 50th minute but Nathan Murphy did well to sniff out the danger.

Dundalk upped their game after that and Keith Ward almost brought the house down with a wonderful dipping volley from 35-yards that just flew past the post. Brush then had to show safe hands to gather another neat effort from the tricky winger.

Rovers pulled in front just shy of the hour mark. Ricketts went at Nathan Murphy before driving a wicked ball across the six-yard box and Dennehy was on hand to slide home from a difficult angle.

The killer second arrived in the 73rd minute. Ricketts hooked a great ball into Ciaran Kilduff's path and after the sub was pushed in the back by Carl McHugh, O'Donnell made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Mark Quigley pulled one back for the home side in injury-time when he headed home from a free-kick but it was too late to launch a comeback.

DUNDALK: Cherrie; Madden, Hawkins, McHugh, N Murphy; Ward, Bolger, Bennett (Breen 80), Gaynor; Byrne (Griffin 63), Quigley.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Brush; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson; McCabe (Dennehy HT), Rice (Turner 83), O'Donnell; Ricketts; Sheppard, Twigg (Kilduff 71).

REFEREE: Richie Winter (Dublin).