Dundalk produced one of their best performances in the league this season when they hit five without reply against Sligo at a frost-covered Oriel Park last night.

Sligo started well enough and should have been in front after 20 minutes when Padraig Moran found himself clean through the Dundalk defence but was stopped by a great save by home goalkeeper Steve Williams.

Dundalk began to play with more confidence and went ahead after 35 minutes when Peter Withnell headed on a good cross into the area by David Hoey for Brian Byrne to beat goalkeeper Mark Westhead from close range. Raymond McCoy put Dundalk in a comfortable position coming up to the interval when he hammered in a great shot in the 43rd minute.

Withnell then came up with his first league goal of the season in the 58th minute, heading in a David Crawley corner. McCoy set up Tom McNulty to score Dundalk's fourth in the 67th mninute and then McCoy himself got Dundalk's fifth in the 86th minute after the chance was made by Byrne.

Dundalk are experiencing something of a revival at the moment in spite of quite a few injuries and look set to stay in the top half of the table for the rest of the season.

Dundalk: Williams, McNulty, Crawley, Doohan, Brady, Melvin, McCoy, Carlyle, Hoey, Withnell, Byrne. Subs: Ward for Withnell (79 mins).

Sligo Rovers: Westhead, Birks, Hutchinson, Ogden, Corbussen, Hare, Jones, Moran, Thew, Hallows, Lynch. Subs: Southworth for Lynch (74 mins).

Referee: E Barr (Dublin).