Airtricity League round-up:Title chasers Drogheda Unitednarrowed the gap on leaders Sligo Rovers to six points with a fully merited 3-1 victory over Bray Wanderersat the Carlisle Grounds.
Drogheda took the lead on 46 minutes when a weak header out of defence by Danny O'Connor enabled defender Eric Foley to let fly with a marvellous left foot volley from 30 yards into the roof of the net.
Bray equalised on 69 minutes when an Adam Hanlon cross from the right found fellow substitute Dean Marshall at the far post to nod home.
Bray's joy was shot-lived as Drogheda regained the lead on 73 minutes when Declan O'Brien scored from the penalty spot.
After Bray defender Kevin O'Connor was sent off for a second yellow card offence, Drogheda made the points safe on 82 minutes when an O’Brien free from 20 yards was only parried by Darren Quigley and substitute Jason Marks made no mistake with a simple tap-in.
A dramatic Dublin derby culminated with the spoils being shared at Tallaght as
Shamrock Rovers
drew 2-2 with
Shelbourne
.
The visitors were on the back foot from the off and were eventually caught out in the 27th minute when Ciaran Kilduff scored.
Six minutes after the restart Shels restored parity through former Rovers player Paddy Kavanagh. They then hit the front in the 77th minute when Philly Gorman netted a delightful chip
Ronan Finn rescued a point for the Hoops with an 83rd minute goal.
Sean O’Connor capped a man-of the-match display with a stunning winner as
St Patrick’s Athletic
beat
Bohemians
3-2 at Dalymount Park.
Having provided assists for St Patrick’s first two goals from, winger O’Connor won it on 70 minutes with a brilliant volley off his weaker right foot from 25 yards that went in off a post.
Cork City
staged a smash and grab raid at the Brandywell last night as they beat
Derry City
1-0.
And it was their defensive midfielder, Gerry Buckley, who did the damage when netting the only goal of the game in the 68th minute.
UCD
took a massive step towards Premier Division safety as a David McMillan brace helped them to a 2-1 win over bottom of the table
Dundalk
at Oriel Park.
The Louth venue was stunned into silence when McMillan dispatched an 81st minute penalty to move the Students seven points clear of Dundalk, all but consigning the Lilywhites to a relegation play-off spot.
McMillan had earlier given UCD a first-half lead only for a Marc Griffin deflection to draw the home side level. Darius Kierans’s side looked good for the three points after that but they were left deflated when McMillan struck late on.
