There was a full programme completed in the Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday evening.
Relegation threatened sides Finn Harps and UCD both faced difficult away matches and suffered crushing defeats. The Donegal side, who have mounted a determined revival in recent weeks, journied to leaders Dundalk where they went down to a five nil defeat in front of the live eirSport cameras while the ‘Students’ travelled across the City to face Bohemian in Dalymount Park where they suffered a humiliating ten one defeat. Second place Shamrock Rovers made the trip to Derry City and collected the points with a two nil victory in the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. St Patrick’s Athletic continued their efforts to break into the top four with a two one home victory over Sligo Rovers. The remaining contest between Munster sides Waterford and Cork City in the RSC ended in a two one victory for the visiting ‘Leesiders’.
P W D L F A G/D Pts
Dundalk 26 19 5 2 52 13 39 62
Shamrock Rovers 27 17 4 6 45 16 29 55
Bohemian 29 14 7 8 41 23 18 49
Derry City 29 12 10 7 44 28 16 46
St Patrick’s Athletic 29 12 7 10 24 27 -3 43
Sligo Rovers 28 7 11 10 27 36 -9 32
Cork City 27 7 9 11 21 31 -10 30
Waterford 26 7 6 13 31 39 -8 27
Finn Harps 29 6 5 18 24 55 -31 23
UCD 27 5 2 20 21 62 -41 17
At the start of the evening there were just four sets of fixtures remaining in the regular Airtricity League First Division this season. Drogheda United mounted the pressure on their promotion rivals with an emphatic six nil victory over bottom side Wexford in United Park. Fourth place Cabinteely slipped up in the play-off hunt when they suffered a surprise one nil home defeat by Galway United. The Carlisle Grounds hosted the meeting of Bray Wanderersz and Cobh Ramblers which ended in a three all draw while Limerick and Athlone Town played out a one all draw in the Markets Field.
Shelbourne restored their lead at the summit to five points with a two nil victory over close challengers Longford Town in the City Calling Stadium on Saturday evening.
P W D L F A G/D Pts
Shelbourne 24 17 2 5 40 18 22 53
Drogheda United 24 15 3 6 55 29 26 48
Longford Town 24 14 3 7 35 20 15 45
Cabinteely 24 12 7 5 33 25 8 43
Bray Wanderers 24 12 3 9 38 24 14 39
Limerick 24 9 6 9 27 30 -3 33
Cobh Ramblers 24 8 6 10 35 39 -4 30
Athlone Town 24 5 4 15 28 54 -26 19
Galway United 24 5 3 16 23 38 -15 18
Wexford 24 2 5 18 20 57 -37 11