League of Ireland Round-up:League leaders Shamrock Rovers were stunned into a 5-1 defeat away to Dundalk, while their nearest challengers Bohemians seized the opportunity with a win over Drogheda United.
League of Ireland Round-up: League leaders Shamrock Rovers were stunned into a 5-1 defeat away to Dundalk, while their nearest challengers Bohemians seized the opportunity with a win over Drogheda United.
Rovers were unable to produce anything like league winning form at Oriel Park where Matthew Tipton got in on the act with a fine hat-trick.
The visitors were completely played off the park and must now regroup as a run of seven straight wins came to an abrupt halt.
Tom Miller scored the opener for Dundalk after just three minutes when he headed home a Ross Gaynor free. Fahrudin Kuduzovic made it two with a low strike a quarter of an hour later.
Tipton got his second just before the break and secured his hat-trick eight minutes from time.
Gary Twigg scored what turned out to be a consolation goal on the hour mark, but on the night the league leaders had to play second fiddle to a far superior Dundalk performance.
Bohemians closed the gap with their 2-0 win over Drogheda, while St Patrick's Athletic lost 3-1 away to UCD.
Elsewhere Galway United and Sligo Rovers played out a 2-2 draw, as did Sporting Fingal and Bray Wanderers.
In the First Division Monaghan United defeated Athlone Town 2-0 to move top, one point ahead of Derry City who have a game in hand.
Airtricity League
Premier Division
Bohemians 2-0 Drogheda United
Dundalk 5-1 Shamrock Rovers
Galway United 2-2 Sligo Rovers
Sporting Fingal 2-2 Bray Wanderers
UCD 3-1 St Patrick's Athletic
First Division
Monaghan United 2-0 Athlone Town