LOI Roundup:
Lilywhites earn huge derby spoils, Pats slip up in title chase & Cork edge closer to First Division glory.
With the final round of fixtures only around the corner, there was twists and turns aplenty over the weekend in both divisions of the League of Ireland.
The Premier Division didn’t see any movement across the league table come the end of the weekend but it wasn’t without its dramatics.
The Louth derby didn’t disappoint as usual. With both teams under a poor run of form and a desperation for three points for contrasting reasons heading into the fixture, it was the experience and quality of the Lilywhites skipper Daryl Horgan that earned the bragging rights for Dundalk as he fired in a 90th minute strike from a free kick which earned his side all three points as it finished 3-2. It’s a huge booster for the Lilywhites as they travel to take on Derry City in the quarter final of the FAI Cup on Sunday, while Drogheda entertain Galway United on Friday in hopes of recreating their cup success from two years ago.
League leaders Shamrock Rovers travelled to the Brandywell and quickly found themselves two goals down on two occasions inside the first half as a rejuvenated Ellis Chapman bagged a brace for the Candystripes. But with their character questioned in recent weeks due to their European qualification nightmare, the strength in depth told for the champions as inspired substitutions in Will Fitzgerald Dylan Watts salvaged a point late on with the final score at three apiece. They face Shelbourne in the only Premier Division tie of the weekend on Friday looking strengthen their grip on top spot.
Looking to put the pressure on at the top of the table was both St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians. However, the Inchicore side came to a roadblock in the form of Graham Coughlan’s Waterford who ran out 2-0 victors away from home, extending their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. For Bohs however, they heaped more misery onto a Sligo Rovers side bottom of the table as a first half rout seen them ease to a 3-0 win in the fourth last game at Dalymount Park while leaving them just five points off top spot come the end of the weekend. Both Pats and Bohs will do battle at Richmond Park on Saturday in the tie of the round of the cup, while Waterford and Sligo will play out an interesting affair at the RSC.
The clash in mid-table between Galway United and Shelbourne also provided entertainment as a last gasp strike by the veteran Jimmy Keohane cancelled out Daniel Kelly’s effort to ensure the spoils were shared and leave John Russell still in search of his first domestic win as Shels boss.
In the First Division, Cork City edged ever closer to being crowned champions with a routine 2-0 victory over Wexford at Turners Cross, leaving them in the knowledge that a win next week away Bray Wanderers, who suffered defeat at Athlone Town, will see them officially out of reach.
Elsewhere, UCD played out a game of the season contender with Finn Harps as they ran out 5-4 winners at Belfield, setting up an interesting contest with Cobh Ramblers next weekend who also remain in the playoff picture following a 2-2 draw with Longford Town.
The midlands side host Kerry FC on Saturday with the Kingdom only two point of the playoff spots themselves after claiming Munster derby bragging rights over Treaty United with a 3-1 win.