Dundalk continue their perfect start to title defence

Dundalk 3  Sligo Rovers 0

Stephen Kenny’s side have now won five games on the trot, scoring 11 goals and yet to concede.

Already setting the pace in their battle to retain the title for the first time in the club’s history, the Louth men hit the front foot in the 17th minute when former Sligo striker McMillan latched onto a Daryl Horgan pass to rifle past Ryan Coulter to the top right-hand corner for his fourth goal in three matches.

The Lilywhites then doubled their advantage nine minutes later, with Towell volleying in from the edge of the area after Horgan’s cross was only partially cleared by Stephen Folan.

McMillan was denied the chance to add to his side’s lead in the build-up to half-time, with Coulter pulling off two fine low saves to deny him.

The visitors, yet to win this season under new manager Owen Heary, went close to pulling a goal back five minutes before the break when Moren Nielsen broke through, but his attempted chip of Gary Rogers took the slightest of nicks off the goalkeeper, allowing Andy Boyle to get back to clear.

The second half was a low-key affair but Towell wrapped up the result five minutes from time with the simplest of tap-ins after Ronan Finn had seized on a loose back pass to tee him up for his second of the night.

DUNDALK: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Boyle, Massey; Meenan (Mountney 81), Shields, Towell, Horgan (Kelly 89); Finn; McMillan (Byrne 87).

SLIGO ROVERS: Coulter; Keane, Peers, Folan, Ledwith (Corcoran 75); Beattie, Cawley, Wearen, Cretaro (Devaney 61), Dykes; Nielsen.

Referee: G Kelly (Cork).