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Rory Gaffney and Carel Tiofack celebrate but Dundalk's title dream left in tatters. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Airtricity League wrap: Limerick dent Dundalk's title ambitions

Sligo leapfrog Dundalk into second after a bad night for the Lilywhites.

LIMERICK LEFT DUNDALK’S title hopes hanging by a thread with a 2-1 win in Oriel Park tonight.

Rory Gaffney scored twice for the visitors as the Lilywhites slipped six points behind league leaders St Pat’s with just four games to play.

Stephen Kenny’s men are now in third after Sligo Rovers leapfrogged them with a 2-0 win at home to struggling Shelbourne.

Elsewhere Shamrock Rovers closed the gap in the race for fourth place with a 3-1 win against Drogheda United in Tallaght, Bohemians moved even further from the danger zone with a 2-0 win over Derry, and Cork City beat UCD 2-0.

After last night’s win for St Pat’s in Bray, Dundalk knew that only a win would do to keep the pressure on the Saints.

But they went into the break 2-0 down after a first-half double from Gaffney.

Richie Towell cut the deficit with a penalty in the 65th minute but Dundalk couldn’t create the chances they needed to snatch a draw.

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Gaffney scores his second (INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

In the Showgrounds, goals from Danny Ventre and Iarfhlaith Davoren gave Sligo a comfortable win over Shelbourne.

Ventre got the last touch to open the scoring in the 25th minute before Davoren followed up with a 30-yard strike shortly before the break.

Tommy Stewart got one in either half as Shamrock Rovers shook off Drogheda in Tallaght. Gavin Brennan cancelled out Stewart’s opener in the 37th minute but Gary McCabe restored the Hoops’ lead with a thumping shot just after the hour mark.

Stewart made sure of the points in stoppage time, pouncing to score following a save from Drogs keeper Gabriel Sava.

Ryan McEvoy scored both of Bohemian’s goals against Derry as Bobby Browne’s side pulled eight points clear of the bottom with their second successive win.

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McEvoy wheels away after scoring his second (INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

McEvoy needed just four minutes before he opened the scoring from the spot and followed up with a headed second midway through the first half.

Derry finished with 10 men after Ryan McBride was sent off with a little over 20 minutes remaining.

Two early goals from Cork City winger Ian Turner settled matters against UCD. Turner made no mistake from the penalty spot in the 10th minute and then followed up with another six minutes later, his shot helped past Mark McGinley courtesy of a huge deflection.

Airtricity League Premier Division results

  • Dundalk 1-2 Limerick
  • Sligo 2-0 Shelbourne
  • Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Drogheda United
  • Cork City 2-0 UCD
  • Bohemians 2-0 Derry City

Snapshot: Roddy Collins and Athlone Town celebrate after sealing First Division title

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