Playmaker David Cassidy was once again the star of the show for Dundalk on Saturday night, as the Lilywhites moved five points clear at the top of the eircom League of Ireland First Division table with a facile 3-0 victory over Athlone Town at Lissywoollen. Cassidy brought his club tally to four with goals in either half to add to Jamie Duffy’s second goal in two games, as the ex-Shamrock Rovers pair executed clinical finishes to condemn the midlanders to their first home defeat of the year.
 
Despite their fourteen match unbeaten start to last season, at no point did Dundalk go more than four points ahead at the summit (with level games), with their current advantage being the biggest the team has held under Gill’s reign. With Shelbourne defeating Waterford United at Tolka Park 24 hours earlier, the visitors knew that three points was paramount, and they dominated from the first whistle against a poor Athlone side.
 
The visitors hit the front just past the half-hour as Cassidy tapped-in from close-range following a Robbie Farrell shot-cum-cross, before Duffy doubled the lead just three minutes later with a cool finish after being sent clear following another Farrell assist. Having remained in control for the rest of the game as Athlone failed to once test goalkeeper Chris Bennion in the 90 minutes, Dundalk never looked in trouble and they wrapped the game up ten minutes from time with a fine move, one which ended in Cassidy driving the ball home with a terrific strike.
 
Prior to the game, Gill was forced into three changes to the team that beat Limerick 37 at Jackman Park the previous Friday. Central midfielder Paul Shiels, winger Paul Smyth and striker Tiarnàn Mulvenna all came into the starting XI, with that trio replacing Paul Crowley, a victim of the flu, and injured pair Davie O’Connor and Robbie Martin. For Mulvenna, it was his first ever league start, having made his senior debut with a substitute appearance at the same ground eleven months ago.
 
Dundalk, like last week, again started the match brightly, with Farrell heading over following good work from Smyth down the left. Athlone rarely ventured forward, however, Noel McGee did find himself in behind the visiting defence just shy of the quarter-hour, only for Ian Ryan to recover well to put the striker off as his effort went well off-target. Moments later, a lowly struck David Crawley free-kick was fumbled behind by ‘keeper Anthony Jinks, before, on 27 minutes, a Duffy cross from the right was flicked on by Shiels to Farrell inside the area, whose headed effort went over the bar.
 
Dundalk didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock, however, as Farrell was at the centre of the move which gave the Lilywhites the lead on 34 minutes. The ex-Monaghan striker latched on to John Flanagan’s cross, however, his attempted shot only trickled across goal, where the in-rushing Cassidy was on hand to complete the easiest of tasks. And, soon after, the hosts found themselves two down as their defence went AWOL. Farrell set Duffy free on goal with a neat pass, and, with plenty of time and space to run into, the Texas-born winger remained calm before netting brilliantly from 12-yards.
 
Following the resumption, Athlone began the opening moments on the front foot, however, it was Dundalk who created the first opportunity of the second-half as Duffy was denied by the legs of Jinks, after the ‘keeper had spilled a cross. As the hosts tried desperately to find a way back into the game, they pushed bodies forward in numbers, however, all they had to show for their efforts was an off-target Dave O’Dowd header following a good cross from the left-wing by half-time sub, Jason McCartney.
 
That was as good as it got for Athlone, as they didn’t trouble the visiting goal again. Dundalk came close to making it three on 70 minutes following another flowing move, as Duffy’s cross was knocked down by Mulvenna to substitute Trevor Vaughan. However, the veteran hitman saw a wonderful goal-bound shot tipped around the post by Jinks. The visitors did get their third of the evening not long after, however, as Cassidy found his second of the night.
 
Another fine move involving Flanagan, Vaughan and Paul Marney saw the latter supplying Cassidy, who, with just the ‘keeper to beat, picked his spot and volleyed home superbly to seal the three points. Marney himself thought he had got in on the act as well just sixty seconds later, however, his goal was ruled out for offside as the 25-year-old tried to capitalise on another fumble by Jinks, after Vaughan’s shot again caused the ‘keeper problems.
 
It was to matter little, though, as another very impressive performance sees the Lilywhites go into next Thursday’s home meeting with Kildare County with a chance to go eight points clear before Shels’ visit to Limerick the following day. Third-placed Waterford, meanwhile, begin the first of two home games on the trot as they entertain Monaghan on Friday.
 
dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: DAVID CASSIDY (Dundalk)…Yet again, the 22-year-old stood out in another impressive all-round team performance. Another wonderful midfield display from the ex-Rovers star was once again capped with goals, as he added to his strikes against Monaghan and Waterford to move above Robbie Martin (3) in the club’s scoring charts. It has pretty much all been said about this player before, with his close-season exit from Rovers becoming more puzzling by the week. Highly consistent, his continued fitness and form will be key to Dundalk keeping their good start to the season going. Class act, and already a clear fans' favourite.