Shamrock Rovers beat Dundalk 3-2 in a Premier Division five-goal thriller, taking the lead three times to secure the points. All five goals arrived in a breathless first half, with Jonathan Afolabi's strike in the 38th minute proving decisive.
Dylan Watts opened the scoring after three minutes, but Robert Cornwall levelled for Dundalk on 15. Michael Noonan put Rovers back in front four minutes later, only for Daryl Horgan to make it 2-2 on 27. Afolabi’s 38th-minute goal settled the scoring before half-time.
Rovers shaded the contest on the numbers, with 14 shots to Dundalk's 12, eight on target to five, and an expected-goals total of 2.66 to 1.71. They had 53% possession and converted three of five big chances, while Dundalk racked up seven corners and 25 fouls but could not force an equaliser. Dylan Watts was central throughout, scoring the opener and setting up Noonan for the second.
