Sligo Rovers handed Dundalk their second defeat on the spin as the Bit O’Red hit back from their own indifferent form at the Showgrounds.
Romeo Parkes sent Rovers on the way to their first league victory in four before Pat Hoban levelled from the spot.
Sligo’s Bermudan centre half Dante Leverock settled this game before half-time when he popped up at the back post to help Liam Buckley’s charges toward their third league win of the season.
Sligo - 11/1 before the game - hit the lead with just 27 seconds played, Ronan Coughlan combining with full back Lewis Banks on the left and the latter’s cross was perfect for Parkes as he slotted past Gary Rogers.
Rovers should have doubled their advantage on 11 minutes as Coughlan blocked a clearance and the ball rolled into the path of Daryl Fordyce but he could only cushion his effort wide of the post.
Parkes almost had his brace on 20 but his low drive struck the base of the post with the Lilywhites stretched.
Sligo’s busy start was brought to a sudden halt when Kyle McFadden handled the ball inside the area, Hoban clipping his subsequent penalty down the middle.
Rovers took the lead again before the break, Parkes flicking David Cawley’s corner towards the back post where Leverock was on hand to head past Rogers for his second goal of the year.
A disjointed Dundalk struggled to find a way past a solid Rovers, in a dull second half who came closest to scoring when Fordyce was denied by a superb Rogers save.
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