Two late goals gave Bray Wanderers three precious points they scarcely deserved as they beat Monaghan United 2-0 at Gortakeegan yesterday to move to within two points of First Division leaders Waterford United who lost 3-0 at Home Farm/Everton on Saturday night.
Bray ran the game in the first-half, though without tangible reward, but it was Monaghan who were left to rue two bad misses in a second half they certainly had much the better of.
Aaron Shearer crashed a 78th minute shot from just six yards out against the underside of the crossbar only for Bray to take the lead a minute later when Kieran O'Brien pounced on a ricochet following a goalmouth melee to beat David Ballintine with a low shot from close range.
Lee King then missed the proverbial sitter two minutes later as Monaghan wasted a glorious chance of an equaliser.
Left chasing the game in the dying minutes, Monaghan were then punished five minutes from time when Alan Dodd ran clear of their defence from inside his own half to score Bray's second goal.
Limerick ended their bad run of three defeats to beat St Francis 2-0 at Hogan Park, Rathbane, to remain in third place.
Jason Purcell gave Limerick the perfect start with a goal after just three minutes when he shot home from 15 yards having run onto Anthony Tobin's through ball.
In a somewhat one-sided and generally nondescript game, Limerick sealed their win in the 70th minute when Darren Browne headed in their second goal from substitute Paul O'Donnell's cross for his first strike since joining the club on loan from Waterford last month.
Waterford gave their worst display of the season as they suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Home Farm/Everton at Whitehall on Saturday night to bring to an end a 14-match unbeaten run.
Goalkeeper Michael Devine's eighth minute mistake, when he completely missed his clearance, gifted Owen Heary a simple tapin.
Further bad defending presented Home Farm with their second goal on 17 mintues. Heary ran clear onto Graham Doyle's excellent pass and, though Devine parried Heary's shot with his feet, Gavin Moore was on hand to crash home the rebound.
Waterford remained lethargic and lacking in creativity for much of the match and it was no surprise when Home Farm broke away to score a third goal through Mark Gill 15 minutes from time. "Too many of my players believed what they read in the papers and we got exactly what we deserved," said a dejected Waterford player/manager, Tommy Lynch.
Galway United maintained their excellent current form with their sixth successive home win - their seventh win in nine games - to beat Athlone Town 2-1.
