Stephen Walsh's second-half double gave Galway Utd’s European hopes a massive boost as they piled further pressure on relegation threatened Dundalk following an easy win at Oriel Park.
The veteran striker popped up with two headers following poor defending from the hosts to earn John Caulfield’s a first away win in five attempts.
That was enough to ensure they move level on points with Shamrock Rovers and Waterford FC, who sit just ahead of them on goal difference in third and fourth place respectively.
While the win - Galway’s third 2-0 victory over the Lilywhites this season - was a welcome boost for the men from the west, it piles further pressure on Jon Daly’s side, who are now just two points clear of neighbours Drogheda United following the Drogs' draw with Bohemians.
Having made a costly mistake in the Cup, on-loan goalkeeper Felix Goddard will come further under the spotlight following his display here but most concerning for the hosts was a fourth defeat of the campaign at Oriel.
If their home form desserts them then a side who eight years ago today claimed a memorable 3-0 European win over BATE Borisov will undoubtedly be facing a nervous closing 10 matches of the season.
The visitors started on top with long-range efforts from Jimmy Keohane and Vincent Bordon failing to find the target inside the opening five minutes.
Dundalk then grew into it with Ryan O’Kane going close twice in quick succession. Firstly, he toe poked agonisingly wide on 14 minutes after Jeannot Esua’s header clear had dropped to him eight yards out before curling a right foot shot from the left hand corner of the penalty area just over soon after.
The 20-year-old then turned provider, teeing Robbie Benson up for a shot that flashed just over on 23 minutes.
The hosts then went close again just after the hour mark when good combination play on the right between Daryl Horgan and John Mountney saw the latter lash a dropping ball across the box which Jamie Gullan added to only to fail to find the target.
Gullan then had the ball in the net on 37 minutes having nudged O’Kane’s cross/shot past Brendan Clarke but the offside flag denied the Scot his first goal at Oriel Park.
It would take until two minutes before the break for a first shot on target to arrive with Killian Brouder’s flick on from Esua’s cross easily saved by Goddard, who also had a simple stop to make from Ed McCarthy’s header in stoppage time after Gullan had fired over from a free kick at the other end moments earlier.
The misses continued on the restart when Jad Hakiki fired wide for the home side but Galway then hit the front on 53 minutes following a spot of dubious goalkeeping from Goddard.
Dundalk failed to deal with Bobby Burns’ cross from the left with Walsh rising at the near post to head through the arms of the German born keeper.
Stephen Walsh heads Galway into the lead!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) August 2, 2024
DUN 0-1 GAL #LOITV | #DUNGAL pic.twitter.com/z1Ew9NMg46
The Tribesmen should have doubled their lead two minutes later but Jimmy Keohane had what was arguably the miss of the season when he fired over off the crossbar from about eight yards out with the goal at his mercy after Walsh had rounded the keeper.
Aodh Dervin then let fly from range on 59 minutes to record the Lilywhites’ first effort on target but Brendan Clarke was equal to it.
Ed McCarthy then fired over with another good chance for the visitors before Dundalk went in search of an equaliser with last-gasp blocks required to deny both Gullan and Robbie Benson on 68 minutes.
Galway had another big chance to put the result beyond doubt a minute later when Goddard almost gifted them a second as he passed the ball straight to Keohane, who but for a heavy touch could have rounded the keeper who managed to smother in the end.
Walsh and Brouder then were denied by crucial blocks before both sides went close to further goals: Eoin Kenny heading wide when unmarked from John Mountney’s cross on 80 minutes before David Hurley hit the inside of the post two minutes later.
Galway did put the game beyond doubt three minutes from time when Karl O’Sullivan was given too much time and space to cross from the right with Walsh heading home his second of the night.
Dundalk: Felix Goddard; John Mountney, Mayowa Animasahun, Andy Boyle, Dan Pike (Sean Keogh 88); Daryl Horgan, Aodh Dervin, Robbie Benson (Scott McGill 75), Ryan O’Kane (Robbie Mahon 75); Jad Hakiki (Eoin Kenny 63); Jamie Gullan (Josh O’Connor 75).
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua (Colm Horgan 80), Garry Buckley, Killian Brouder, Bobby Burns; Conor McCormack (Conor O’Keeffe 84), Vincent Borden (David Hurley 67); Jimmy Keohane (Karl O’Sullivan 83), Patrick Hickey, Ed McCarthy (Greg Cunningham 80); Stephen Walsh.
Referee: Paul Norton
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