Playing behind closed doors clearly doesn't agree with first division leaders Dundalk as they were crushed 4-0 by Monaghan United at Gortakeegan as an already tight race for promotion was blown wide open.

Darren McKenna was Dundalk's tormentor-in-chief as he scored twice inside 12 minutes; firing home the first from 15 yards on six minutes before meeting Eddie Meier's cross to again score from close range.

Defender John Carroll added the third and Paul Smyth completed the rout 12 minutes into the second-half.

Waterford United stretched their unbeaten league run to nine games with a 2-0 win at St Francis - John Frost and Eric Bradley on target.

Cobh Ramblers ended their nine-match sequence without a win in emphatic fashion by halting Home Farm/Fingal's 10match unbeaten run with a 6-1 victory at St Colam's Park.