Shelbourne move six points clear at the top

Leaders Shelbourne moved six points clear at the top of the eircom League Premier Division tonight after a comfortable 3-0 win…

Leaders Shelbourne moved six points clear at the top of the eircom League Premier Division tonight after a comfortable 3-0 win over Drogheda United at Tolka Park.

Pat Fenlon's side, who won away to Longford Town earlier in the week, took the lead after 14 minutes when Stephen Geoghegan's close range effort took a deflection off a visiting defender to leave 'keeper Gary Rogers stranded.

Drogheda were gifted a chance to redeem themselves after 38 minutes when Andy Myler was bundled over in the area but his casually struck penalty trickled wide of Steve Williams' post.

Shelbourne held their lead at the break and doubled it midway through the second half when Jim Crawford rose highest to head home a free kick.

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The home side secured the points 11 minutes from time when Ollie Cahill scored his second goal in two games after dinking in from the left flank to unleash an unstoppable shot high into the Drogheda net.

At Turners Cross, Cork City moved up to second position after a facile 4-1 win over struggling Longford Town. Billy Woods and John O'Flynn combined to put Pat Dolan's side 2-0 up at the break.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Sean Francis gave the visitors a glimmer of hope with a goal on 59 minutes. But Longford failed to capitalise on that opening and instead self destructed.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men within minutes of Francis' strike; Philip Keogh receiving his marching orders in the 61st minute for a second bookable offence. Cork kicked on and Woods and Doyle put the result beyond doubt with further strikes inside the last 8 minutes.

Bottom-of-the-table UCD were just seconds away from their second win of the season at the RSC with Alan McNally having put the Students ahead on 49 minutes.

But, in the 93rd minute, Waterford equalised through Wayne Fitzgerald. UCD's Mick O'Donnell was sent off after collecting two yellow cards.