Eager Shamrock Rovers add to Dundalk’s misery

Shamrock Rovers 2 - Dundalk 1: “Cheerio four-in-a-row,” sang the Shamrock Rovers supporters as the Hoops inflicted a fifth league defeat on Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium last night.

First-half goals from Ronan Finn and Dave McAllister ensured a badly-needed win for Stephen Bradley’s side, while driving another dagger in the champions’ hopes of replicating Rovers’ four-in-a-row achievements from the 1980s.

They now lie a massive 15 points behind runaway leaders Cork City with any hope of a turnaround looking highly unlikely as Stephen Kenny’s side appear a shadow of the team that made such an impression in Europe last season.