Dundalk 3 - 0 Derry City

Dundalk returned to winning ways on Monday evening as they defeated Derry City 3-0 at Oriel Park on Monday evening.

A hat-trick from the scintillating Richie Towell was enough to hand the Lilywhites three points and ensure that European football will return to Oriel Park next season.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny kept faith with the same XI which suffered defeat to Limerick on Friday evening as skipper Stephen O'Donnell served the final match of his suspension while for Derry City, Declan Devine chose to make three changes from the side which lost on their travels to Bohemians.

Out went Ryan McBride, Michael Duffy and David McDaid - in their place came former Lilywhite Eoghan Osborne, Patrick McEleney and captain Barry Molloy.

It was Derry City who started the brighter and they could well have had a penalty kick in the opening five minutes when a Ruaidhri Higgins through ball found Michael Rafter. He muscled Brian Gartland out of the way and rounded Peter Cherrie who appeared to take his former teammate down however referee Graham Kelly viewed it differently and booked the forward for diving.

Patrick McEleney had a good effort saved by Cherrie following a flick from Patterson before Dundalk forced their first opening of the match on 15 minutes when a Darren Meenan corner wasn't dealt with and it fell to John Dillon who flashed the ball just wide of Gerard Doherty's left hand post.

Patrick Hoban then watched an effort go wide of the post when he broke free inside the box following a wonderful turn despite Kurtis Byrne being free in the centre.

The Lilywhites didn't have to wait long to take the lead though as two goals inside a minute put them in firm command of the match.

A great move from the hosts resulted in Byrne chesting the ball in the direction of Richie Towell who created space for himself inside the box and finished to the net from 6 yards.

Moments later, Towell made it two in what is a contender for team goal of the season. A truly stunning mood which started at the back, through the midfield and ended up with Meenan's deep cross finding Dane Massey and his perfectly cushioned header found the on-rushing Towell who caught it perfectly on the half-volley and finished to the net.

That gave the hosts a lead that they barely deserved and the Candystripes came in search of a goal just before the break when Patrick McEleney had a shot whistle just over Cherrie's crossbar while McNamee then had a shot warm the Scottish netminder's hands.

That proved to be the final action of the half and Dundalk went in 2-0 to the good.

The home side began the second half well and really should have added a third goal almost from the re-start when Meenan's corner went all the way to the touchline and was retrieved by Massey. His excellent cross found the unmarked Hoban but the former Mervue United striker could only head over the bar from 6 yards.

Rafter then had a free-kick strike the wall for Derry City and Higgins shot well wide from distance as the visitors looked for a route back into the game.

Meenan himself then had a shot blocked from the edge of the area when he was fed by Byrne before the outstanding Towell put the game to bed and completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes.

A beautiful through ball found Towell who beat the offside trap and cut inside and confidently finished to the net past Doherty to score his ninth goal of the season.

Minutes later, the Candystripes almost responded when Patterson broke free inside the Dundalk area but Cherrie rushed out to deny the striker.

Even though Derry City were pressing for a goal, Dundalk always looked the more likely to add a fourth. Byrne linked up well with substitute Vinny Faherty on numerous occasions but it was Hoban who headed wide once more from another Meenan cross with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Byrne shot wildly in the closing stages as the Lilywhites secured three points in sublime style and treble their total from 2012!

Dundalk: Peter Cherrie; Mark Rossiter (c) (John Sullivan 69), Andy Boyle, Brian Gartland, Dane Massey; Chris Shields, Richie Towell (John Mountney 90); Darren Meenan, John Dillon, Kurtis Byrne; Patrick Hoban (Vinny Faherty 61).
Subs not used: Tiarnan Mulvenna, Simon Kelly, Francis McCaffrey, Conor Winn (GK).

Booked: Meenan (32), Byrne (40), Dillon (75).

Derry City: Gerrard Doherty; Simon Madden, Shane McEleney, Dean Jarvis; Eoghan Osborne (Patrick Kavanagh 59); Patrick McEleney (Mark Griffin 77), Ruaidhri Higgins, Barry Molloy (c), Barry McNamee; Rory Patterson, Michael Rafter.
Subs not used: Ryan Curran, Raymond Foy, David McDaid, Michael Duffy, Eugene Ferry (GK).

Booked: Rafter (6).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 1,512

Extratime.ie man of the match: Richie Towell (Dundalk) – a stunning display from the midfielder. A masterclass.