Paul Coughlan scored four goals to help Cobh Ramblers to a sensational 6-4 victory over Monaghan United in the most amazing match of the season at St Colman's Park yesterday.

In a game that flowed from end to end, Coughlan and Willie Byrne appeared to have Cobh in command over the side propping up the table with goals inside the opening 26 minutes.

But Monaghan staged a remarkable recovery to score three times in four minutes through Andy Myler, Paul Smith and a penalty from captain Karl Wilson, only for Coughlan to equalise with his second a minute before the break to leave it 3-3 at the interval.

Donal Golden connected with Liam O'Connor's cross to restore Cobh's lead on 52 minutes. But Roy Fox levelled again for Monaghan five minutes later.

It was Coughlan's day, however, and he completed his hat-trick within a minute as the game twisted once more, before adding his fourth goal, and Cobh's sixth, on 64 minutes.

Dundalk's promotion hopes suffered a minor setback when they were held to a scoreless draw by their bogey side, St Francis, at Oriel Park on Saturday night to slip out of the top three for the first time in three months.

St Francis, who won at Oriel Park thanks to an injury-time goal in the opening match of the campaign, again frustrated Dundalk who were watched by their biggest home attendance of the season, admitted free because of it being the club's last game of the century.

The visitors didn't co-operate with the festive spirit, however, and defended doggedly; goalkeeper Cathal Warfield ably dealing with Dundalk's two best efforts late on from leading scorer David Ward.

Limerick's player-manager Tommy Lynch again found the target to follow on from his spectacular brace of free-kicks at Bray the previous week as his side came from behind to beat Home Farm/Fingal at Whitehall.

Richard Foran put Home Farm in front on 55 minutes when shooting home from Keith O'Brien's cross. But Lynch equalised with another trademark strike from 25 yards, his low shot giving Home Farm keeper, Stephen O'Reilly, little chance.

Brendan Hughes then won it for Limerick 15 minutes from time when he drilled a low shot past O'Reilly from the edge of the area to give Limerick their first win in 11 games.