Dundalk swatted Sligo Rovers aside at the Showgrounds as they pressed on with their push for another league title. Dane Massey and Andy Boyle struck in either half for the Lilywhites, who stretched their lead over second placed Shamrock Rovers to s
Dundalk moved to within a point of leaders Cork City as a goal in either half from Patrick Hoban and Michael Duffy saw off Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
Hoban made the most of poor defending from the home side on the half hour, while Duffy did likewise when he netted his second of the season on 55. Sligo started positively, bringing a busy start from Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers.
On his 501st game in the League of Ireland, Rogers had to scramble to get a fingertip to Calum Waters' vicious shot inside the first minute, before the Meath man kept out subsequent efforts from Adam Morgan and a unconvincing pop at goal from Caolan McAleer.
The Lilywhites slowly settled and began to go about their business. Micheál Schlingermann's goalmouth was relatively unthreatened before the Bit O'Red were the architects of their own downfall.
Michael Duffy cut inside before sending what looked like an innocuous cross in front of goal. Seamus Sharkey looked clear favourite to clear the danger but calamitously, the ball slipped under the defender's foot leaving Hoban with the simplest of finishes.
Rovers almost found a way back into the game moments before the break but Kyle Callan-McFadden could only look on as his powerful header from a Rhys McCabe corner, whistled past Rogers' front post.
Dundalk's second was again courtesy of slack Sligo defending. They twice failed to clear their lines before the ball eventually fell to Duffy who executed a crisp finish past Schlingermann. Sligo's chances remained few and far between for the remainder.
McAleer's neat one-two with Ali Roy provided the Tyrone man with a chance to shoot, but he scuffed the effort. While Roy himself should have done better with his opportunity but he missed the target from close range when supplied from the left by Patrick McClean.
