Shelbourne 2 St. Patrick's Athletic 2
Shelbourne striker Jason Byrne bagged two goals to rescue a point for his new club at Tolka Park tonight.
The former Bray Wanderers hitman had put the home side in front but St. Patrick's Athletic mounted a second half revival to nick the lead against the run of play. But Byrne, the league's leading scorer, popped up to equalise with 10 minutes remaining.
Pat Fenlon's side got off the mark with a goal inside the first minute. Winger Richie Baker crossed a super ball to the far post which Byrne collected, amid sloppy Pats defending, to fire past 'keeper Chris Adamson.
Shelbourne held that lead going into the break but their opponents pushed on in the second period and levelled after seven minutes. Tony Bird played a low ball into the Shelbourne area and centre half Kevin Doherty deflected into his own net.
Four minutes later and the Inchicore club were ahead. Kevin Fahey whipped in a teasing corner kick which midfielder Paul Osam met with a bullet of a header. However, Byrne notched up his seventh goal of the season with a late equaliser.
Waterford Utd 1 Bohemians 3
Ukrainian striker Andrei Pereplyotkin scored his first goal for Bohemians since his arrival from Southampton as the champions eased to a 3-1 victory over Waterford United at the RSC tonight.
The 18-year-old frontman, starting his first game under Stephen Kenny, netted from a Robbie Doyle corner, after just two minutes to send the travelling fans into full voice. But Waterford, buoyed on by a 3,000 strong crowd, retaliated in style and levelled 13 minutes later.
Kevin Waters threw himself onto a Thomas Hughes ball and looped a header over visiting 'keeper Shay Kelly. Waterford were full value for their goal and continued to challenge Bohemians into the second half.
However, the champions let their class shine through late on and scored twice in the final 11 minutes to wrap up the points. David Morrison found the net in the 79th minute before Ireland international Glen Crowe lobbed home the third with four minutes to play.
At O2 Park, Drogheda United scored in the last minute to draw 2-2 with Longford Town.