THERE WAS PLENTY of excitement on the final day of this season’s Airtricity League as UCD and Bohemians secured their places in next year’s Premier Division.
Heading into the night, three teams were still staring at the possibility of a promotion/relegation play-off with UCD and Bray Wanderers tied on 27 points and Bohs two points better off.
Shelbourne, already resigned to the second tier in 2014, hosted the Students and fell behind to a Robbie Benson penalty on 18 minutes before defender Ian Ryan almost immediately.
Just three minutes later, Dean Clarke added a second for the away side to seal their status in the top flight.
Owen Heary made his final appearance in top level football after coming on as a late substitute in the defeat to Drogheda United at Hunky Dorys Park.
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The veteran defender, who was acting as caretaker manager for much of the season, will hang up his boots after 20 years in the League of Ireland and was mobbed by fans at the final whistle.
Bray went down 2-o at home to Dundalk through goals from Patrick Hoban and Kurtis Byrne and will now face winners of tonight’s play-off Longford Town after a dramatic finish to their promotion play-off.
Mervue held a 1-0 lead going into the second leg, but it ended 3-3 on aggregate before the Galway club lost 3-0 in a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Derry City booked fourth spot in the league with a 6-0 drubbing of Limerick at the Brandywell.
Michael Rafter was the first name on the scoresheet and David McDaid helped himself to a hat-trick with Simon Madden and Dean Jarvis adding one each.
They now face a wait to see if Sligo Rovers can overcome Drogheda in next weekend’s FAI Ford Cup final and as a result hand them a place in Europe.
The Bit O’Red ended their season on a high by seeing off Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Shane Robinson put the home side ahead but goals from former Hoop Aaron Greene and Danny North sealed it for Ian Baraclough’s men.
Champions St Patrick’s Athletic travelled to Cork City and went down 4-2 — Gearoid Morrisey Daryl Horgan, Ciaran Kilduff and Danny Morrissey were on target for the Leesiders while Chris Forrester and Ger O’Brien scored for the Saints.
Results – Premier Division
Bray Wanderers 0-2 Dundalk
Cork City 4-2 St Patrick’s Athletic
Derry City 6-0 Limerick
Drogheda United 1-0 Bohemians
Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Sligo Rovers
Shelbourne 1-2 UCD
Promotion play-off second leg
Longford Town (3) 3-2 (3) Mervue United (Longford win 3-0 on penalties)
Airtricity League wrap: Bray to meet Longford in play-off, Derry book fourth place
THERE WAS PLENTY of excitement on the final day of this season’s Airtricity League as UCD and Bohemians secured their places in next year’s Premier Division.
Heading into the night, three teams were still staring at the possibility of a promotion/relegation play-off with UCD and Bray Wanderers tied on 27 points and Bohs two points better off.
Shelbourne, already resigned to the second tier in 2014, hosted the Students and fell behind to a Robbie Benson penalty on 18 minutes before defender Ian Ryan almost immediately.
Just three minutes later, Dean Clarke added a second for the away side to seal their status in the top flight.
Owen Heary made his final appearance in top level football after coming on as a late substitute in the defeat to Drogheda United at Hunky Dorys Park.
The veteran defender, who was acting as caretaker manager for much of the season, will hang up his boots after 20 years in the League of Ireland and was mobbed by fans at the final whistle.
Bray went down 2-o at home to Dundalk through goals from Patrick Hoban and Kurtis Byrne and will now face winners of tonight’s play-off Longford Town after a dramatic finish to their promotion play-off.
Mervue held a 1-0 lead going into the second leg, but it ended 3-3 on aggregate before the Galway club lost 3-0 in a penalty shootout.
Meanwhile, Derry City booked fourth spot in the league with a 6-0 drubbing of Limerick at the Brandywell.
Michael Rafter was the first name on the scoresheet and David McDaid helped himself to a hat-trick with Simon Madden and Dean Jarvis adding one each.
They now face a wait to see if Sligo Rovers can overcome Drogheda in next weekend’s FAI Ford Cup final and as a result hand them a place in Europe.
The Bit O’Red ended their season on a high by seeing off Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Shane Robinson put the home side ahead but goals from former Hoop Aaron Greene and Danny North sealed it for Ian Baraclough’s men.
Champions St Patrick’s Athletic travelled to Cork City and went down 4-2 — Gearoid Morrisey Daryl Horgan, Ciaran Kilduff and Danny Morrissey were on target for the Leesiders while Chris Forrester and Ger O’Brien scored for the Saints.
Results – Premier Division
Promotion play-off second leg
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Bray Wanderers League of Ireland Longford Town Round-Up