A large crowd saw Sligo Rovers go to the summit of the eircom League First Division thanks to a deserved victory over a competitive Dundalk side tonight in The Showgrounds.

Once again it was the manner in which Rovers took the points that impressed. This victory was built on the firm foundation of defence and a central spine led by two players - Liam Burns and Conor O'Grady - that would grace any side in the country. The team knuckled down when they had to, responded when Dundalk asked the difficult questions and ultimately held on to continue their one hundred per cent home record.

It was a bright first half that started cautiously and developed into an intriguing encounter with Rovers using the wings to great effect whilst the visitors' threatened principally from counter attacks and set-pieces.

The opening ten minutes were scrappy with Rovers relying on long balls to take advantage of Alan Flynn's speed and it was Flynn who had the first opportunity from an O'Hara clearance but his effort was gathered by Shanahan.
Looking lively and sharp on the right, Raffaele Cretaro's first involvement saw him creating space for himself on the right, cutting inside, but his shot was dealt with well by the 'keeper.

Dundalk's first effort in the opening quarter saw McCabe win a corner with a snap shot by Smith that deflected off Burns for a corner which the same player got his head to, to clear.

Rovers had a great spell on the quarter hour when following a good build up by Kudozovic, his pass was cleverly flicked into the path of McCartney by O'Grady, but Jason  couldn't control the ball and the danger was averted.
A minute later, it was McCartney again put through on the left side of the six yard boxt by Cretaro. This time he beat the keepr but his shot pulled across the face of the goal and was cleared by Kelly.

The pressure continued when Kudozovic played a great ball through to the path of flynn who controlled well but blasted over the bar.

The Lilywhites responded with some quick counter attacks, the first seeing McCarthy firing a low ball across the box from the left that was cleared out by McNamara. The resultant corner was taken by McCabe which Kelly connected to, but his effort hit the side netting.

Conor O'Grady conceded a free on twenty seven minutes, which allowed the impressive Simon Kelly to shoot from thirty yards forcing the save from O'hara.

Approaching the half hour, the Bit O'Red had a chance again when Low showed good vision sending a cross field ball from left to right at the railway end which was met first time by Cretaro but blocked out for a corner.

An early tactical substitution saw Ciaran Foley coming on for Alan Flynn and Foley was involved immediately as he tried to set Kudozovic free on the left but the Bosnian could not take advantage.

The momentum continued for the home side as Alvarez sent Cretaro free on the right and he whipped a first time ball back into the path of Alvarez whose flick went through to McCartney to fire his effort narrowly over the top.

Five minutes before the break the visitors gave the Bit O'Red faithful another scare when following good work by Ger McCarthy on the left,  Smith knocked his pass back for Morgan, whose effort from twenty yards went out for a corner.

The second half started brightest for Rovers as they took control in the middle of the field and began to dominate.

On fifty six minutes a through ball by O'Grady allowed Cretaro to fire in a great ball which Alvarez looked to have looped into the net, but Shanahan somehow got up to tip on to the bar and McCartney's follow up hit the side netting.

The breakthrough finally came on the hour. A Rovers throw in on the right saw Kudozovic play through to Alvarez who headed into the path of Foley. The Limerick man stumbled slightly and looked to have lost the opportunity but the keeper was wrong-footed and this allowed Foley to pass the ball into an empty net.

Rovers continued to press the advantage with Alvarez looking lively but Dundalks resolute back line meant that clearcut chances were at a premium.

With quarter of an hour to go, Dundalk moved to three at the back and pressed forward but it was steady as you go for the good ship Rovers with Liam Burns master and commander at the back.

It was a nervous final ten minutes with Rovers conceding a series of free kicks and corners that had the large crowd on the edge of their seats and on the verge of a collective coronary. With hearts fluttering for both sets of fans, the clocked ticked down to the chorus of ariel assaults on the Rovers goal mouth and a couple of Rovers counter attacks that captilised on Brian Tosh's speed.