TWO GOALS FROM Danny North ensured the Bit O’Red kept the pace out in front at Hunky Dorys Park tonight.
Ian Baraclough’s side were just three points ahead of second-placed Shamrock Rovers going into the latest round of fixtures so knew a slip-up could give the current Premier Division champions an opportunity to get themselves back in a favourable position.
As it turned out, it was the Hoops who dropped points and it took Sligo just 10 minutes to take the lead with defender Gavin Peers scoring with his head after Derek Prendergast had blocked the initial shot on the line.
On 35 minutes, North scored the first of his brace by redirecting Ross Gaynor’s cross past Gabriel Sava but Drogheda’s Fabio O’Brien had them back within a one-goal deficit before the break.
The game was put beyond Drogs with 12 minutes remaining as the former Pat’s hitman made sure of a Sligo victory.
At Tallaght Stadium, Shamrock Rovers looked to be cruising to three points thanks to first half goals from Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh but were caught out in injury time and ended up having to settle for a draw with UCD.
Dennehy put them ahead with a low free-kick after just five minutes of play and Stephen Kenny’s men went into the break to goals to the good after Kavanagh scored a belter from 25 yards.
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However, a foul on Daniel Ledwith by Conor McCormack gave the Students a lifeline and Graham Rusk scored the penalty before Paul O’Conor did the damage late on.
The meeting of Cork City and Dundalk got off to a frantic start with the Turner’s Cross crowd being treated to four goals in 14 minutes.
Daryl Horgan won a corner then Gearoid Morrissey delivered and Davin O’Neill converted with a volley. The Lilywhites weren’t behind for long and it was Michael Rafter who came up with the goods but keeper Mark McNulty will be furious with himself for letting the low drive slip out of his grasp.
Gary Shanahan put the visitors ahead with an opportunistic goal but O’Neill was on-hand to even up the scores once again. On a particularly miserable evening in Cork City, Vinny Sullivan proved the difference by dispatching a header beyond Peter Cherrie from Morrissey’s cross.
Paul O’Conor shows his delight after clinching a draw for UCD in Tallaght. Credit: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
In our feature game, St Patrick’s Athletic came away from the Brandywell with a deserved 2-0 win. Derry were without a number of key players and looked nervy for much of the 90 minutes as manager Declan Devine urged them not to sit deep.
Substitute Darren Meehan, on early for the injured Mark Rossiter, got on the end of Ger O’Brien’s deep cross and directed his header back across goal and over Ger Doherty with seconds of the first half remaining.
Saints winger Sean O’Connor secured the win on 64 minutes when his speculative effort took a deceiving bounce to catch Doherty out and propel Liam Buckley’s talented outfit up the table.
Dave Cassidy was the hero for Shelbourne, who came from a goal down to leave Monaghan United empty-handed at Tolka Park.
After a scoreless first half, Jordan Keegan won a penalty for the Mons and Willie McDonagh tucked it past Dean Delany. Seven minutes later, winger Paddy Kavanagh made it 1-1 by being the fasted to react to Cassidy’s deflected strike.
On 71 minutes, Cassidy himself then found the back of the net with a delightful lob, meaning Roddy Collins’ men stay rock bottom.
In the final top tier fixture, Jason Byrne and Danny O’Connor scored either side of Dinny Corcoran to earn Bray a home win over Bohemians.
There were just two matches contested in the First Division with Denis Behan’s goal the difference in a 1-0 win for Limerick, while Waterford overcame SD Galway at Terryland Park – Gary Dempsey and Ben Ryan were the scorers.
Airtricity League wrap: Danny boy keeps Sligo on top as the Hoops slip up
TWO GOALS FROM Danny North ensured the Bit O’Red kept the pace out in front at Hunky Dorys Park tonight.
Ian Baraclough’s side were just three points ahead of second-placed Shamrock Rovers going into the latest round of fixtures so knew a slip-up could give the current Premier Division champions an opportunity to get themselves back in a favourable position.
As it turned out, it was the Hoops who dropped points and it took Sligo just 10 minutes to take the lead with defender Gavin Peers scoring with his head after Derek Prendergast had blocked the initial shot on the line.
On 35 minutes, North scored the first of his brace by redirecting Ross Gaynor’s cross past Gabriel Sava but Drogheda’s Fabio O’Brien had them back within a one-goal deficit before the break.
The game was put beyond Drogs with 12 minutes remaining as the former Pat’s hitman made sure of a Sligo victory.
At Tallaght Stadium, Shamrock Rovers looked to be cruising to three points thanks to first half goals from Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh but were caught out in injury time and ended up having to settle for a draw with UCD.
Dennehy put them ahead with a low free-kick after just five minutes of play and Stephen Kenny’s men went into the break to goals to the good after Kavanagh scored a belter from 25 yards.
However, a foul on Daniel Ledwith by Conor McCormack gave the Students a lifeline and Graham Rusk scored the penalty before Paul O’Conor did the damage late on.
The meeting of Cork City and Dundalk got off to a frantic start with the Turner’s Cross crowd being treated to four goals in 14 minutes.
Daryl Horgan won a corner then Gearoid Morrissey delivered and Davin O’Neill converted with a volley. The Lilywhites weren’t behind for long and it was Michael Rafter who came up with the goods but keeper Mark McNulty will be furious with himself for letting the low drive slip out of his grasp.
Gary Shanahan put the visitors ahead with an opportunistic goal but O’Neill was on-hand to even up the scores once again. On a particularly miserable evening in Cork City, Vinny Sullivan proved the difference by dispatching a header beyond Peter Cherrie from Morrissey’s cross.
In our feature game, St Patrick’s Athletic came away from the Brandywell with a deserved 2-0 win. Derry were without a number of key players and looked nervy for much of the 90 minutes as manager Declan Devine urged them not to sit deep.
Substitute Darren Meehan, on early for the injured Mark Rossiter, got on the end of Ger O’Brien’s deep cross and directed his header back across goal and over Ger Doherty with seconds of the first half remaining.
Saints winger Sean O’Connor secured the win on 64 minutes when his speculative effort took a deceiving bounce to catch Doherty out and propel Liam Buckley’s talented outfit up the table.
Dave Cassidy was the hero for Shelbourne, who came from a goal down to leave Monaghan United empty-handed at Tolka Park.
After a scoreless first half, Jordan Keegan won a penalty for the Mons and Willie McDonagh tucked it past Dean Delany. Seven minutes later, winger Paddy Kavanagh made it 1-1 by being the fasted to react to Cassidy’s deflected strike.
On 71 minutes, Cassidy himself then found the back of the net with a delightful lob, meaning Roddy Collins’ men stay rock bottom.
In the final top tier fixture, Jason Byrne and Danny O’Connor scored either side of Dinny Corcoran to earn Bray a home win over Bohemians.
There were just two matches contested in the First Division with Denis Behan’s goal the difference in a 1-0 win for Limerick, while Waterford overcame SD Galway at Terryland Park – Gary Dempsey and Ben Ryan were the scorers.
Results
Premier Division
First Division
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Airtricity League Bohemians FC Bray Wanderers Cork City Derry City Drogheda United Dundalk First division Monaghan United Premier Division Round-Up Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers St. Patrick's Athletic Shelbourne UCD