Goals in either half from David Crawley and Jamie Duffy maintained Dundalk’s three point advantage at the summit of the eircom League of Ireland First Division standings, as the Lilywhites survived a very dubious injury-time penalty to record a fully deserved 2-1 win over Limerick 37 at Jackman Park on Friday evening. John Gill’s men were comfortable throughout, however, a mix-up in defence gifted Limerick a way back into the game, before the Shannonsiders almost stole a point in the dying seconds.
 
Dundalk started strongly without creating anything clear-cut, before Crawley stood up to convert a spot-kick shortly after the quarter-hour mark, after Duffy done well to win a penalty. The visitors should have then added to their lead just before the break, however, they had to wait until after the resumption to make it two, as Duffy found the net with a deflected effort. Limerick soon replied through a Tommy Barrett header from close-range, however, the Blues failed to trouble Chris Bennion’s goal again until Barrett’s 92nd minute penalty clipped the crossbar and went over.
 
Following last week’s home win over title rivals Waterford United, Gill made just one change to the starting XI, as striker Robbie Farrell replaced the injured Trevor Vaughan to make his first start in almost a month. Midfielder Paul Shiels returned from an ankle knock to take his place on the bench having sat in the stands for the past two matches, while top scorer Robbie Martin also recovered from injury and lined-out in attack alongside Farrell. Limerick, meanwhile, were without full-back and regular penalty taker Shane Tracy, and captain Pat Purcell, however, midfielder Wayne Colbert passed a late fitness test and started in the centre of the park.
 
After beginning brightly, and threatening with a couple of half chances, Dundalk took a deserved lead on 17 minutes. Lax in defence, Limerick were to pay a heavy price, as Brian Cleary’s failure to clear allowed Duffy in to nick the ball from him, before the winger went down under a challenge from the left-back. In the absence of spot-kick specialist Vaughan, the responsibility fell to local lad Crawley, who sent the ‘keeper the wrong way before seeing his effort just creep inside Fyffe’s right-hand post.
 
With Dundalk comfortable, Limerick failed to seriously worry Bennion, with an easily dealt with header from James Hayes being the Blues’ only effort on target in the opening half. The visitors indeed should have doubled their lead twice before the interval, as Farrell, Martin and Paul Smyth all went close. On 36 minutes, Davie O’Connor’s cross from the left fell to Duffy, whose blocked shot from 15-yards found its way to Farrell. However, in a great position from a tight angle just outside the six-yard area, the ex-Monaghan hitman fired a weak shot straight at the home netminder.
 
O’Connor was soon forced to retire following that contribution, as a nasty knee injury saw the 23-year-old replaced by Smyth. And, the winger almost made an immediate impact. Farrell got in behind the backline, however, as he set aim for the target, a wonderful last-ditch sliding challenge saw the ball run away from the forward. Smyth then attempted to capitalise only for Fyffe to block at his feet, before the ‘keeper recovered to brilliantly push behind Martin’s powerful goal-bound follow-up.
 
With Limerick showing little in attack, Blues boss Mike Kerley decided upon making a double switch at the break, as Wayne Colbert and Padraic Fogarty were replaced by Ross Cosgrave and Derek McCarthy, who came in for his first appearance since last November. And, although those changes brought a little more life to Limerick, it was Dundalk who doubled their lead on 50 minutes. Trying to play the ball out of defence, Cosgrave lost possession to the hard working Smyth, who found Duffy with a neat pass. Coolness personified, the winger teed himself up before seeing his goal-bound effort take a wicked deflection, which left Fyffe helpless as the ball looped over the ‘keeper and into the goal.
 
The hosts were soon back in the game, however, as Dundalk conceded a soft goal on 56 minutes. Cleary delivered the free-kick from close to the halfway line into the visitors’ box, with Barrett climbing above Ian Ryan to head past Bennion from four-yards. Clearly due to a mix-up in defence, it was later revealed that Bennion called the ball, with both himself and Ryan then letting it go, leaving Barrett with an easy task to head home. That goal threatened to give Limerick a way back into the game, however, they never troubled Dundalk’s defence again - that was until injury-time.
 
With almost ninety seconds of the three added minutes played, the home side foraged inside the Dundalk area in one last attempt for an equaliser, with Barrett going down under a cluster of challenges from the defence. Crawley appeared to win the ball, however, the referee pointed straight to the spot, to leave the Lilywhites staring a disastrous loss of two points in the face. However, with Tracy - who has scored three from three from the penalty spot so far this season - not playing, Barrett stood up and blazed his effort off the top of the crossbar and over. Indeed, that was Limerick’s last chance, as Dundalk comfortably played out the final ninety seconds in the opposition half.
 
dundalkfc.com Man of the Match: JAMIE DUFFY (Dundalk)…A close call between Jamie Duffy and David Crawley for this award, Duffy just wins out. The winger has faced some unwarranted criticism in recent weeks, however, he showed his worth to the team here by proving Dundalk’s match winner. Clever play by the Texas-born star gave the visitors a first-half spot-kick, before the 24-year netted his first ever club goal with a second-half strike to put the Lilywhites two goals ahead. Manager John Gill feels “we’re only scratching the surface as regards (Duffy’s) ability at the moment”, and if that is true, then Dundalk fans have something special to look forward to in the coming months. An eye-catching display in an all-round excellent team performance.