The good news off the pitch for Shamrock Rovers did not continue on the pitch tonight as they slumped to a 2-0 "home" defeat to Derry City at Dalymount Park tonight.
It was a moment of in-discipline from Willo McDonagh that really did the damage for Rovers when he was dismissed with a straight red card on 22 minutes.
Stephen Kenny's Derry side took their time in making the numerical advantage pay. It was three minutes into the second half when a stunning Kieran Martyn strike put them ahead.
The contest was effectively over on 80 minutes when a Killian Brennan shot took a wicked deflection past keeper Barry Murphy, just as Rovers were starting to exert some pressure. The win sends the northern side into second place in the league
Out in Belfield home side UCD managed only a 1-0 victory over a St Patricks Athletic side that offered little over the 90 minutes.
The students made all the play but they only went ahead on 80 minutes when Stephen Hurley turned home a long ball from defence.
Home side Waterford went ahead after 9 minutes at the RSC but eventually succumbed 2-1 to Bray Wanderers thanks to an Eamon Zayed brace.
Results in full:
Premier Division
Waterford Utd 1 Bray Wanderers 2 Shamrock Rovers 0 Derry City 2 UCD 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0
First Division
Limerick FC 1 Kildare County 1 Athlone Town 0 Dublin City 2