Dundalk 1 Bray Wanderers 0
Dundalk’s three-year reign as SSE Airtricity League champions will go on for another 72 hours at least thanks to Michael Duffy’s late winner against ten-man Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park.
Stephen Kenny’s side knew that they needed a win to have any hope of keeping the champagne corks from popping at Dalymount Park and Duffy’s 87th-minute drive, coupled with John Caulfield’s side dropping points against Bohemians in Dublin, means that yet another title party has been postponed on Leeside.
Dundalk striker David McMillan turned Hugh Douglas inside out only to see his toe poke saved by Peter Cherrie before youngster Jake O’Connor hit the upright in the first half.
Bray were left to play the last half an hour with 10 men after Ryan Brennan was stupidly sent-off for two bookings in quick succession, right in front of his manager, Harry Kenny.
Dundalk staged a late rally and Duffy collected a Jamie McGrath pass to smash home, cutting the gap at the top to six points in the process, and leave Cork waiting yet again.
Dundalk: Rogers; Gannon, Gartland, Hoare, Grimes; Shields, O'Connor (O'Keefe 69); Duffy, McGrath, Ubaezuono (Benson 56); McMillan.
Bray Wanderers: Cherrie; Buckley, Douglas, Kenna, Moore; Brennan, McCabe, Sullivan, Noone, Marks; Greene.
Referee: Sean Grant.
Derry City 3 Finn Harps 0
Finn Harps are now considered favourites to join Drogheda United in the First Division following defeat in Buncrana.
And Harps can have no complaints with this defeat, their poor defence costing them dearly in the end.
Derry City deservedly broke the deadlock in the 24th minute but the goal could have been avoided.
As Harps attempted to work the ball forward on the left flank, Derry’s Ronan Curtis did well to rob full-back Damien McNulty, and the Irish Under-21 international raced forward before driving a low shot into the net from just inside the 18-yard box.
And Harps only clear-cut chance of the opening period, one minute before the break, saw Danny Morrissey’s effort charged down and diverted wide at the expense of a corner.
The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half, despite the fact that Harps had opened that period on the front foot.
Curtis picked McNulty’s pocket yet again when he rose majestically to win a header and having burst into the danger area, the winger squared the ball to the unmarked Rory Patterson who lashed the ball high into the net.
In the 61st minuteBen Doherty floated a dangerous ball into the box from the bye-line and with the Harps’ defence failing to deal with the situation, Patterson dived low to divert the ball home from close range.
Derry City: Doherty; McDermott, Cole, Barry, Doherty; Monaghan (Tweed, 81), McEneff; Schubert (Boyle, 71), McNamee, Curtis; Patterson (McBride, 86).
Finn Harps: Gallagher; McNulty, Cantwell, Mailey, Coll; McAleer, Houston (Keita, 65), McBride (Bonner, 61), Harkin; Dsane (Banda, 54), Morrissey.
Referee: B. Connolly (Dublin)
Galway United 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 1
Goalkeeper Lukasz Skowron gave a brilliant display for St Patrick’s Athletic goal as Galway United could only secure a draw in a relegation battle at Eamonn Deacy Park.
There were 2,164 in attendance on a night when the Galway senior and minor hurlers paraded their trophies and the home support were thrilled heading towards half-time after Eoin McCormack’s opening goal.
But it was 1-1 at the break when Billy Dennehy scored in the 45th minute despite Galway’s dominance.
McCormack’s expertly taken opener in the 36th minute was the least Galway deserved.
Ronan Murray was guilty of missing a number of early chances but he provided the assist for the the Ballinasloe native.
Galway were the better team for most of the first-half but just before the break Conan Byrne crossed for Dennehy, and he made the perfect connection to put the ball past Conor Winn.
Galway came again late in the game but Stephen Folan missed with a chance from a corner and St Pat’s, themselves not safe from relegation, survived to take an invaluable point.
Galway United: C Winn; N Maher, S Folan, C Horgan; K Devaney, D Cawley, R Hale, M Ludden; G Holohan (C Melody, 76), R Murray; E McCormack (P Cunningham, 86).
St Patrick's Athletic: L Skowron; G Kelly, J Balk, L Desmond, I Bermingham; O Garvan, P O'Conor (M Barker, 55), K Brennan; C Byrne (I Turner, 86), B Dennehy, C Fagan (K Byrne, 59).
Referee: Robert Rogers (Dublin).
Shamrock Rovers 1 Sligo Rovers 1
A cracking free kick from Regan Donelon kept Sligo Rovers out of the bottom three as they battled from behind to earn a draw at Tallaght Stadium.
The point, coupled to Bray Wanderers losing at Dundalk, was enough to seal a Europa League place next season for third in the table Shamrock Rovers.
Trailing to Gary Shaw’s first have strike, Sligo rallied late on to level on 76 minutes.
Rovers left-back Trevor Clarke saw a yellow card for a foul on substitute Sligo Jamie McDonagh.
And left-back Donelon rifled a stunning dead ball over the wall to the top corner of the net for a sublime goal.
Rovers dominated the first half twice hitting the woodwork with headers from Shaw and David McAllister either side of their taking the lead on 33 minutes.
Central defender Lee Grace began the move, feeding Aaron Bogler who put Brandon Miele away on the left.
Miele’s clever low cross into the near post was met by the sliding Shaw who poked the ball home.
Shamrock Roves: Horgan; Madden, Lopes, Grace, T. Clarke (Byrne, 87); McAllister; King (Doona, 74), Bolger, Finn, Miele; Shaw.
Sligo Rovers: Patton; Adebayo-Rowling, McFadden, Sharkey, Donelon; Russell (McDonagh, 66), Roddan, Keaney (Moorhouse, h-t), Kearns (Igiehon, 74); McCabe; Faherty.
Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary).
