Cobh Ramblers ended their brief leadership of the First Division after a remarkable game against St Francis at Baldonnel on Saturday night that provided four goals, three sending-offs and two power failures, resulting in the match not finishing until 10.45.

The result leaves Drogheda United a point clear of Cobh at the top with a game in hand. A black-out in the Clondalkin area meant the match kicked-off 45 minutes late - a terrific first-half, in which all the goals in a 2-2 draw were scored, lit up the game further.

Paul Coughlan put Cobh ahead on 12 minutes when shooting home Keith Dalton's cross with the aid of a deflection.

Fran Sheridan put St Francis level eight minutes later when scoring from a penalty after Jason Ledwidge was upended by Willie Byrne.

Sean Francis restored Cobh's lead when getting the slightest of touches to a Dalton corner on 37 minutes before Anthony Kenneally headed a Fran Sheridan free-kick into his own net to equalise for St Francis five minutes before the break.

Another black-out as the players walked off at half-time delayed the second-half for 50 minutes.

Cobh wasted several chances before three red cards in six minutes provided a blot on what was a thoroughly enjoyable game. Cobh's Kenneally and Pat Maher were sent-off for second bookable offences while St Francis' Ross McNally was red-carded after he appeared to kick out at Cobh goalkeeper Alan O'Shea.

Elsewhere, Longford Town's slide continued as they fell to their third successive defeat, losing 1-0 at home to Limerick FC. Paddy Doyle punished a defensive mistake to score after 11 minutes.

Monaghan United won for the first time in nine matches to end Kilkenny City's revival with a 2-0 victory at Buckley Park. Midfielder Karl Wilson, Monaghan's leading scorer, added his eighth goal of the season when curling a free-kick round the Kilkenny wall to give his side the lead after three minutes. Bobby Browne added the second 10 minutes from time when catching Kilkenny on the break.