Another goal from Antonio Izzi, his 11th of the season, earned Cobh Ramblers a valuable 1-0 win over Limerick FC at St Colman's Park on Saturday night to move them into second place and reduce Longford Town's lead at the top to four points.

Doubtful all week with a dead leg, Izzi's goal-poaching instinct punished a defensive mistake as he scored the only goal from Keith Dalton's cross eight minutes from time.

It was a cruel blow for Limerick who had had much the better of the chances up till then; Cobh goalkeeper, Alan O'Shea, producing two excellent saves while Paddy Doyle wasted a great opening early on when played through by Tommy Lynch.

At the other end of the table, Athlone Town and Home Farm/Everton climbed one place each after 3-0 and 3-2 wins over Monaghan United and St Francis respectively.

Midfielder Ray McLoughlin, making only his second appearance of the season following injury, finally brought some life to a drab game at St Mel's Park when shooting Athlone in front after 68 minutes. Paul McGee then outpaced Robbie Best and went round goalkeeper, David Ballintine, to make it 2-0 on 79 minutes.

Suspension-hit Monaghan had James O'Callaghan sent-off for a second-bookable offence five minutes later before McLoughlin rubbed it in with his second goal a minute from time.

Defeat for Monaghan was accentuated when Home Farm won the battle of the bottom two at Whitehall to drop Billy Bagster's side into the re-election zone.

St Francis midfielder, Brian Rickard, got them back into the match when equalising Stuart Byrne's first-half opener for Home Farm a minute into the second-half. But Liam Brien's young side showed a repeat of the resolve that beat Limerick in their previous home game to run up a 3-1 lead with strikes from Thomas McGauley and Darryl Mooney. St Francis, now without a win in 12 games, were twice denied by great saves from Paul Whelan before Paul Irwin got a consolation goal from a last-minute penalty.