Airtricity League round-up:Gary Twigg pounced with virtually the last kick of the game at Turner's Cross tonight to earn Shamrock Rovers a 1-1 draw with Cork City and maintain the defending champions unbeaten start to the season.
With 94 minutes on the clock, the hosts looked to have done enough after Gavin Kavanagh had put them ahead, but with one last attack, Billy Dennehy’s cross was headed back into the danger area and Twigg was on hand to touch the ball home.
Kavanagh opened the scoring early in the second half, his pot shot from distance taking an awkward bounce and fooling Oscar Jannsen in the Rovers goal. The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped by a straight red card for defender Conor Powell but Twigg earned a share of spoils with the final act.
Derry City’s 100 per cent start to the new campaign was brought to an abrupt halt at Tolka Park as Shelbourne ran out deserving 1-0 winners.
Philly Hughes won it for the hosts with a goal late in the first half and their reward is a quarter share of top spot in the Premier Division this morning as well as a growing sense that they too can be right up there at the business end of the season.
A brilliant double save from a second half penalty by Chris Bennion prevented St Patrick's Athletic going top of the table as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Monaghan United. The visitors started brightly and once again took an early lead with Conor Murphy’s flick from close range catching Brendan Clarke unawares.
Dean Kelly, who scored on his debut on the opening night against Bray, further endeared himself to the home faithful when looping a shot over Bennion from the edge of the area. St Pat’s had the opportunity to claim the points on 67 minutes but Bennion parried Stephen O’Flynn’s penalty before keeping out Chris Forrester’s follow up.
Bray Wanderers picked up their first Premier Division points of the season with a 3-2 win over UCD at the Belfield Bowl. Jason Byrne put Bray 1-0 up on the half hour when clinically heading home from close range but UCD were level before half-time through a Graham Rusk penalty.
The Students went ahead on 66 minutes when Rusk fired home his second penalty of the night only for Danny O'Connor to steal all three points, first making it 2-2 with a neat lob before sending a powerful header crashing into the net six minutes from time.
Elsehwere, it was honours even after the first Louth derby of the season with Drogheda and Dundalk playing out a scoreless draw low in quality at Hunky Dorys Park. And Bohemians are still seeking their first league point following a narrow 1-0 defeat at Sligo Rovers, Lee Lynch netting the only goal of the game.
Premier Division results
Cork City 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda United 0-0 Dundalk
St Patrick's Athletic 1-1 Monaghan United
Sligo Rovers 1-0 Bohemians
UCD 2-3 Bray Wanderers
Shelbourne 1-0 Derry City
